Cooking Lesson #1073: Salsa Verde Chicken Thighs

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? Are you looking for inspiration for tonight’s dinner? A lot of us ran short of ideas when faced with cooking 3-meals a day during the Covid lockdown. We tried to help our readers with fresh ideas that are uncomplicated. Simplify is the name of the game! In fact, you can have a delicious chicken dinner with very few ingredients or just a few more by making a 100% from-scratch Salsa Verde recipe at the bottom of this blog.
 
The Salsa Verde is the key ingredient with this recipe. It gently cooks the chicken thighs and permeates them with great south-of-the-border flavor. Look for salsa verde that has a thicker texture. Broiling the dish at the end with some gooey cheese puts it over the top. Serve with Mexican rice and beans and a bottle of Corona.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Yield:  3-4 servings
 
Ingredients 
6-8 (8-ounces) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup jarred thick salsa verde (or make your own—see my recipe below)
1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
Kosher salt, to taste
Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish, optional
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 425° F.
2. Arrange a rack in the center of the oven.
3. Season the chicken thighs evenly with pepper.
4. Place the seasoned chicken thighs in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet or 3-quart baking dish.
5. Drizzle the chicken with the oil.
6. Pour the salsa verde over the chicken.
7. Bake until the salsa is bubbly and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 140°F, about 20 to 25 minutes. (Note: the chicken is not fully cooked at this point).
8. Remove the chicken from the oven.
9. Turn on the broiler.
10. Sprinkle the cooked chicken with the cheese and return to the oven.
11. Broil until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, and the cheese is melted and browned in spots, about four minutes.
12. Season the chicken with salt to taste.
13. Garnish with cilantro.
14. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.

 
ChefSecret:  You can shred the chicken, toss it with the sauce and cheese and make Chicken Verde tacos or burritos.
 
                                     Oven Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde
To cook the tomatillos, you can either roast them in the oven, brown them on the stovetop, or boil them. Roasting in the oven or browning on the stovetop will deliver the most flavor.
 
Prep time:  20 minutes
Cook time:  15 minutes
Yield:  3 cups
 
Ingredients 
1-1/2 pounds tomatillos (about 12 medium size toms)
1/2 cup chopped white onion
3 cloves (or more) garlic
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
2 stemmed, seeded and chopped jalapeños (use more if you like more heat)
1/2 teaspoon kosher or to taste
 
Directions

1. Preheat a broiler, and line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Set an oven rack about 6-inches from the heating element.

To prepare the tomatillos and cook

1. Remove the papery husks from the tomatillos and rinse well. Cut the tomatillos in half and place them cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2. Add a few garlic cloves in their skin.
3. Place the sheet pan under a broiler for about 5 to 7 minutes to lightly blacken the skins of the tomatillos.
4. Combine the cooked tomatillos, garlic and seasonings, then pulse in a blender:
5. Place the cooked tomatillos, lime juice, onions, garlic (if using), cilantro, jalapeño peppers in a blender or food processor and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed.
6. Season with salt to taste.
7. Cool the hot salsa and then refrigerate.
8. Serve with chips or as a salsa accompaniment to Mexican dishes.

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ChefSecret:  Go the extra mile and make your own Salsa Verde.
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Quip of the Day:  In what part of Mexico do kangaroos live? Cancunroo
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

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                                                         ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

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