Pollo Asado Autentico

Making Authentic Tasting Pollo Asado

You’ll find a lot of handy premade meat items at Trader Joe’s if you don’t have the time to marinate meats or decide to have a last-minute meal idea. We all have hectic schedules that don’t always give us time for preparing meals as we want to. Here’s a great idea for those who like Pollo Asado.

What is Pollo Asado?

This is a type of marinade that starts primarily with chicken and is using citrus juices mixed with spices including oregano, paprika, cumin, and one very special additive. This secret ingredient is known as Achiote powder and is what is giving the chicken meat its orange-red color. Not that this is so common in the US, as this type of marinade is more common across South America, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and even in the Caribbean.

The primary meaning behind pollo asado also means that it’s been roasted or barbequed, so all of that marinade helps to turn chicken into a delicious meal. Because of the citrus, this tenderizes the chicken meat so each bite is giving you a satisfying experience on top of the added marinade flavors. To make pollo asado, you can typically use a whole chicken or parts of the chicken such as the breast, thighs, and leg quarters.

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If we’re talking about the version that Trader Joe’s is selling, this contains two cutlets that are packed into a vacuum-sealed bag and is pre-marinated. The options to make fajitas, burritos, or carne asada are just the beginning of what this product offers for those who like Mexican foods. As long as you grill or roast this chicken, it will make a tasty meal no matter how it’s prepared and served.

Pollo Asado Autentico Fajitas

Samantha

One item on the menu that everyone seems to agree upon always includes fajitas. The interesting history of fajitas goes all the way back to the 1930s in Texas when ranchers paid their Mexican ranch hands with meat. This meat was often parts that were less than desirable and would include entrails, heads, and skirt steak. Using their knowledge of cooking in Mexico, the ranch hands turned the meat into what is called pollo asado.

The meat was then sliced into thin strips grilled outdoors and eaten on a tortilla. The word fajita is Spanish for a little strap and describes the tiny strips of meat that appear similar to chopped-up leather straps. It wasn’t until the 1960s that many restaurants around Texas began to offer fajitas on their menu. This helps create the familiar Tex-Mex themed dishes that we all enjoy to this day.

This dish is very simple to make at home and includes items that you can easily get from Trader Joe’s. Here’s what you’ll need:

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Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Calories 202 kcal

Equipment

• Cookie sheet
• Silicone parchment
• Medium sized bowl
• Oven
• Sharp knife
• Paper towel
• Small bowl
• Serving bowl

Ingredients

  

• 1 Package pollo asado autentico
• 1 Bag Mélange á Trois (yellow, green, and red bell pepper)
• 1 Package Tortillas
• 1 Yellow onion (thinly sliced)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 Lime
• 1 Pack Cilantro
• 1 Jar Pico de Gallo sauce

Instructions

 

• The start of this meal begins with preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Onto a cookie sheet lined with silicone parchment. Taking a medium-sized bowl you then add the sliced yellow onion and bell pepper combo and add some olive oil and salt and pepper. This needs to be tossed and then laid onto the cookie sheet.
• Place the bell pepper and onion mixture into the oven and allow this to bake for 20 minutes. Now it’s time to prepare the pollo asado and slice it into thin strips. These strips need to be 2-inches long by 1-inch wide. These strips are placed into a hot skillet and grilled until they’re cooked for 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat. Place the strips into a bowl and let them cool.
• While you’re waiting for your oven peppers and onion to finish cooking, take the time to prepare your lime, cilantro, and tortillas. Take a sharp knife and slice the lime into small wedges with equal parts. Give the cilantro a cool wash and remove each stem so you only have the leaves. Clean out your skillet with a paper towel and use this to warm your tortillas.
• Only use low heat to warm the tortillas and stack them on a serving plate depending on how many people you’re looking to feed. Pour the Pico de Gallo sauce into a small bowl and get ready to dig in. Your peppers and onion mixture will be softened but still has a light crunch and needs to be transferred into a serving bowl. You can now assemble your fajitas as you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcal

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Marinated thinly sliced chicken breast meat, seasoned in the pollo asado style.

What People Have to Say About TJ’s Pollo Asado

Katie Duran

Great for a quick and easy meal! Lots of good flavors in this pollo asado

Alexa Sullivan

Great tasting already-marinated chicken…… just perfect for making quick and easy fajitas!

katiebecca83

This chicken has great flavor. The marinate is fresh, delicious, and doesn’t burn during cooking. Great, quick dinner — just add tortillas and fixins!

clchamness

Great flavor. Throw on the grill or cook in skillet, serve with sautéed bell peppers and onions, tortillas, guacamole, salsa, & cheese. Fast meal your family will love!

missy4short

I like this way better than the carne asada. Great for a quick barbeque. Just add tortillas, cilantro and onions. (And a can of beans.)