Tequila-Lime Chicken Burgers with Bacon and Cheddar and Creamy Jalapeno-Ranch Sauce
Jalapeños are the most popular chile peppers in the US. This is probably due to the availability and versatility of the chile. Jalapeños have a balanced combination of flavor and heat. The demand for these have caused breeders to develop a broad range of varieties.
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
• 1 ¼ – 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 large), cut through length-wise to create 4 slightly thinner cutlets
• Canola oil
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• 1 teaspoon (heaping) lime zest
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon tequila
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 4 slices Cheddar Cheese
• 4 Buns, toasted
• Romaine leaves
• Jalapeno-Ranch Sauce (recipe below)
• 4 strips crispy-cooked bacon, cut in half to make 8 smaller strips
• Red onion slices
• Tomato slices
Preparation:
-Into a large bowl, add the 4 chicken cutlets, about 1 tablespoon of the oil, plus the rest of the ingredients up to and through the cayenne pepper; toss the chicken breasts with the marinade ingredients to coat them well, and allow for them to marinate for at least 20 minutes, or even overnight, if making ahead.
-Once marinated, place a grill pan over medium-high to high heat, and drizzle in a little oil; once the oil is hot, add in the chicken breasts and grill for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden-brown and cooked through; set aside for a moment.
-Preheat your broiler.
-Place the grilled chicken breasts onto a small baking sheet, and place a slice of cheese onto each one; place the chicken under the broiler for a minute or so, just until the cheese is melted.
-To assemble, drizzle some of the Jalapeno-Ranch Sauce on the bottom bun, and place a couple of leaves of romaine; then, top with a cheese-topped chicken breast, 2 of the bacon strip halves, some sliced red onion, and tomatoes; drizzle some sauce onto the top bun, then cover; serve with some extra sauce, if desired.
Jalapeno-Ranch Sauce Ingredients:
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• 1 large garlic clove
• 2 green onions, roughly chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeds and membrane removed, and roughly chopped
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon granulated onion
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Preparation:
-Place all ingredients into a food processor, and process until completely smooth and creamy.
-Use immediately, or, store in a squeeze bottle or covered container in fridge.
From thecozyapron.com