Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos

Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos

Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos
and
Grits & Greens

The story goes that Thornton Prince III, a Nashville resident, had a reputation for being a womanizer. One day, after a late night out, he came home to his girlfriend who wanted to teach him a lesson. In an attempt to make his breakfast unappetizing, she heavily seasoned the chicken with cayenne pepper. However, instead of being put off by the spice, Prince enjoyed the fiery flavor and decided to share it with his friends.

In the late 1930s, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack was officially established, and the popularity of Nashville hot chicken began to grow. Over the years, the dish became a local favorite and gained recognition way beyond Nashville.

We are huge fans of the city of Nashville, and Nashville Hot Chicken. A little while back we did a tasting of Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas.

The chicken is often served on a piece of white bread or in between a bun. Here, I take the hot chicken concept and serve it in charred flour tortillas. By all accounts, it’s just another way to enjoy fabulous Nashville hot chicken.

Grits and Greeens

Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos
and Grits & Greens Recipes

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Hatch Chile Stew, Chicken, Heirloom Beans

Hatch Chile, Chicken, Heirloom Bean Stew

⭐️⭐️ Hatch Chile Stew ⭐️⭐️
With Chicken and Heirloom Beans
Tortilla Strips, Sour Cream, Avocado, Radish, Cilantro

Hatch Chile Aficionados, you’re gonna love this stew! It is chock-full of a whole pound of fire-roasted chopped Hatch chiles. But don’t worry, I used the mild ones so it is not too spicy, just bursting with New Mexico green chile goodness. There is also red Hatch chile powder in the recipe for another layer of chile flavor and so you can adjust the spice-level to your liking. 🔥

Chicken and heirloom beans make it a hearty meal while all the garnishes give it pizzazz. Home-fried tortilla strips are dusted with Hatch chile powder and give the stew a spicy Southwest crunch. Sour cream, avocado, radish, and cilantro bring creamy, peppery, and herby notes. Unlike some stews where chicken and/or beans take center stage and chiles play a supporting role, here, the chiles are the star. ⭐️

Hatch Chiles are chile pepper varieties commercially cultivated in the Hatch Valley of Southern New Mexico. It is said that the soil and climate of the area contribute to the especially pleasing flavor of the chiles. (from Fresh Chile Co. here) 🌶

Hatch Chile, Chicken, Heirloom Bean Stew

Hatch Chile Stew with Chicken, Heirloom Beans Recipe

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Chicken and Olive Stew, Moroccan Spices

Chicken and Olive Stew, Moroccan Spices

Chicken and Olive Stew, Moroccan Spices

This chicken stew is a little bit spicy, a little bit sweet, a little bit sour, and a little bit salty with plenty of exotic spices. I took the liberty of adding non-traditional ingredients such as tamari and butter too. It is chock full of savory umami flavors. A big bunch of herbs brings fresh bright notes at the end. The humble chicken stew is humble no more.

Chicken and Olive Stew Recipe

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Poulet Reine Elizabeth (Coronation Chicken)

Poulet Reine Elizabeth (Coronation Chicken)

Poulet Reine Elizabeth (Coronation Chicken)

Originally listed on the menu as Poulet Reine Elizabeth, Coronation Chicken as it is now known, was created for Her Majesty’s guests at the 1953 Coronation Luncheon of Queen Elizabeth II by Chef Rosemary Hume of The Cordon Bleu Cookery School, London.

In honor of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we are recreating Poulet Reine Elizabeth. It was described back then as cold chicken, boned and coated in curried cream sauce. The delicately seasoned chicken was proclaimed a huge success at the luncheon.

Coronation Banquet Menu

The traditional recipe had subtle wine and herb flavors with a creamy pale pink color, unlike modern versions that are mostly bright yellow and often include such ingredients as golden raisins, grapes, celery, almonds, mango chutney, and cilantro. Most notably, Chef Hume’s 1950s recipe contained a good dollop of fresh whipped cream, whereas today’s cooks often substitute yogurt or crème fraîche.

The following cold curried chicken recipe closely resembles that original one, served at the Coronation Day banquet to three hundred fifty people in the Great Hall of Westminster School. It is plated on my newly acquired Royal Staffordshire English Ironstone vintage dinnerware.

Coronation Chicken Recipe

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Panko-Crusted, Two Ways

Panko-Crusted, Two Ways

Panko-Crusted, Two Ways
Goat Cheese and Chicken

Time to get crusty! Developed in Japan during World War II, the dough for panko is baked by electrical current, heated rapidly and uniformly, quickly producing a light, yeasty, crust-free bread. The bread is then ground to create fine slivers of airy, crispy crumb. Then the crumbs are toasted to a delicate crunch which results in breadcrumbs that absorb less oil and add more volume than the traditional type.

Both goat cheese and chicken cutlets are very satisfying with wide international appeal when cooked with a panko crust. They are often served with a fresh green salad to balance the crispy-fried technique.

Panko-Crusted Recipes

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