Pollo con Nopales (Chicken and Cactus)

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 2
Yield: 2 servings

Description

This 4-ingredient pollo con nopales (chicken and cactus) recipe features a puréed tomatillo and jalapeño pepper sauce, so it has a bit of a kick to it.

Ingredients

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (16 ounce) jar canned nopales (cactus), drained
3 fresh tomatillos, husks removed
3 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded

Directions

1 Fill a pot with water; bring to a boil. Add chicken breasts; cook until no longer pink in centers and juices run clear, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into centers should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Drain pot, set chicken aside to cool, then shred into small strands and set aside.
2 Fill the same pot with water; bring to a boil. Add nopales, tomatillos, and jalapeño peppers; cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Drain; transfer tomatillos and jalapeños to a blender. Set nopales aside; cool.
3 Blend tomatillos and jalapeño peppers until smooth; pour into the same pot. Add shredded chicken; place over medium heat. Dice nopales; stir into the pot. Simmer until completely reheated, about 5 minutes.