Monday, October 25, 2010

From my Kitchen: Mexican rice and Chicken Fajitas


Living in Croatia I don't prepare Mexican food as often as I would like to, mostly because I can't find all the ingredients needed and my belief that if I substitute the ingredients it won't have the same sabor 'taste'. Instead I have learned to prepare some of the local cuisine such as grilled fish and spinach with potatoes. So once in a while I will prepare one of my recipes and chicken fajitas is one of hubby's favorites.  I can find most of the ingredients at the grocery store. You can add as many veggies as you like. Beli had the same as hubby minus the jalapenos. For myself I prepared veggie fajitas with lots of jalapenos. 

1. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil on a large pan and cook chicken strips until you see a golden brown color then


2. Add 2 large onions (cut in thin slices) and 2 large peppers diced and 2 cloves of garlic (jalapenos optional).


3. Continue cooking and stirring until the vegetables are brown around the edges.  


4. Then you need a side dish so I made some Mexican rice. I'm sure there are many versions but this is how I learned to prepare it growing up.



Ingredients to make the rice:
3 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 medium chopped onion
2 tomatoes chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1-2 tomato bouillon cubes (Personally I prefer Knorr brand) but you can use any brand/flavor
1/2 cup of tomato sauce
2 cups of water (since I'm using the bouillon cubes I don't use vegetable broth)
some cilantro but I used parsley

Directions:
1.Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat and add the rice. Cook, stirring constantly until the grains turn light brown color.

2.Add onion, tomato and garlic and cook for a few minutes 

3.Add tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil, add the bouillon cubes but today I didn't have any so I used what had in my pantry,2 teaspoonful of vegeta ( the croatian version of Knorr in powder form)  and the parsley.

4.Reduce heat to low, and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes. (Note: I usually  let the water evaporate completely but the picture below shows how it was when I opened the lid and grabbed some for Beli.) Then I turned the heat off and I tasted the rice for flavor (sometimes it's not 'salty' or flavorful enough so I add more vegeta and a dash of pepper then I place the cover and allow the rice to "fluff"  for about 10 minutes so the water is completely evaporated. 

If you like you can always add more cilantro /parsley at the end for garnish. You can also add 1/2 cup of peas or corn during the last ten minutes of cooking. 


  • Enjoy with flour tortillas and guacamole or sour cream.

I know my recipes are not very specific because I learned to cook by watching my Mom. She never followed any recipes, instead she added a little of this, a pinch of that and her food was always delicious.  I always  wonder why my recipes are never as good as hers. Hmmm... I hope  Beli can say that about my food when she grows up. So what's your favorite side dish for fajitas?    For me it's guacamole. YUM



10 comments:

  1. I am telling you start your own food blog or better yet let your family guest post recipes on your blog that we can enjoy and you ca tell us about the substitutes we can use here. Love Mexican food, but I am on Beli's side, no jalapenos for me! Keep cooking! I don't know if you have Mercator food store in split but I saw some great additions to their sauce section like a Taco seasoning mix in a small sachet.

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  2. Looks very good. I prefer the chicken fajitas over the beef. I'd even go for the vegetarian but no jalapenos for me either!

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  3. Yep! Guacamole and sour cream mixed together for me! And never....I mean never....leave out the jalapenos!!! ;-)

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  4. Every time I see you recipe post I want to run to my kitchen and make it too..I love those homemade and so comforting dishes:)
    Happy Monday,sweetie

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  5. that looks delicious! You're making me hungry!

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  6. Jelena, I like the idea about having family and friends post recipes. Hmmmm you may be on the right track. Thanks for the encouragement.

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  7. I.M. thank you. the veggies are actually very good, just add some spices and you are good to go!

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  8. Poetess, Yes don't forget the jalapenos. ha ha

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  9. Jen, maybe you can make them for dinner? at least the chicken fajitas. 20 minutes or so. I still haven't posted that recipe for guacamole right? I will, next time I find some avocados at the grocery store.

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  10. Ooooh, this is excellent!! My husband being Texan, I love finding Mexican home cooking recipes for him!! I hope my daughter would say the same about my food when they grow up. My girls like to help me in the kitchen and it is so cute! I have to be extra careful with them not cutting or burning themselves.

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Thank you for your comments!

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