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Chicken Fajitas and Smoked Bacon Cubes

17/11/2023

Fajitas are a Tex-Mex cuisine dish, but to add an Italian touch we can include smoked pancetta, which will add a delicious smoky flavor. Here is the recipe with the addition of pancetta.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of chicken breast
  • 200 g of cubed smoked pancetta
  • 2 bell peppers (one red and one green)
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 flour tortillas

Preparation

  1. Start by cutting the chicken breast into strips not too thin, after cleaning away any fat parts.

  2. Mix in a bowl the lime juice, olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder (if using), salt, and pepper. Add the chicken strips and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.

  3. In the meantime, slice the onion and peppers into strips not too thin.

  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the pancetta cubes until crispy. Then remove from the skillet and set aside.

  5. In the same skillet, add a drizzle of oil if necessary and sauté the onion and pepper strips until they begin to soften.

  6. Move the vegetables to one side of the skillet and on the free side add the marinated chicken, keeping the remaining marinade aside.

  7. Cook the chicken until it is well browned and cooked, then mix with the vegetables.

  8. Add the crispy pancetta cubes and stir everything together to blend the flavors.

  9. Warm the tortillas following the instructions on the package.

  10. Serve the hot chicken, bacon, and vegetable mixture accompanied by the warm tortillas and allow everyone to stuff their own fajita to taste.

Curiosities

The original fajitas were born in Texas between the 1930s and 1940s when Mexican workers were paid with beef, particularly with less valuable cuts like the skirt (in Spanish “faja”). They cooked this meat on an open fire or a grill, which is where the name “fajitas” comes from. Over time, the recipe has evolved to include other proteins such as chicken or shrimp.

I suggest pairing your fajitas with sauces like guacamole, pico de gallo, or yogurt sauce to add freshness and flavor. Enjoy your meal!

Chicken Fajitas and Smoked Bacon Cubes