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Chicken with Dates! Mexican Inspired

July 8, 2015 by Tania 25 Comments

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Mmexican Inspired Chicken with Dates on a green plate

I am not sure if dates have ever been quite as popular as they are at the moment. They are being used as a substitute for raw and refined sugars quite a lot, like this delicious caramel and dark chocolate slice I made here  or this amazing date and custard tart. Have you been cooking with dates?

I recently wrote a whole lot of recipes using dates including a few savoury ones like this Mexican Inspired Chicken with Dates. Doesn’t it look delicious?. Dates take on flavours very easily and their texture when cooked down forms a great paste. They are actually extremely delicious with spices and chilli. It’s sweet and spicy and flecked with chillies and all goes together so well. Add cheese or sour cream if you like.

Dates grow on palm trees and were thought to have originally grown along the banks of the Nile and Euphrates Rivers in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but are now grown on every continent on earth. 100 gm of dates is approximately 277 calories but along with the calories are much needed dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

I have an Egyptian friend who enthrals me with tales of growing up in Egypt where the dates are huge and plump and are made into dozens of varieties of pastries.

Mexican Ispired Chicken with Dates on a baking tray

So the dates fresh or dried for this recipe are melted down into the ultimate spicy, herby sweet yet savoury paste for this tender chicken. It is completely delicious with a fresh salsa containing lime and coriander.

Mexican Inspired chicken with dates in a burrito

It is totally perfect served in burritos as a wrap or rolled up and baked. You could also serve it with some Mexican inspired rice. You could even save it for the next day for lunch rolls or burritos, honestly it’s plain damn delicious. Just make sure you eat it with loads of chillies.

Mexican Inspired chicken with dates burritos

Look out for more date recipes

Mmexican Inspired Chicken with Dates on a green plate

Mexican Inspired Chicken with Dates!

These is an easy recipe. You just need to make the marinade and bake . Serve with your favourite salsa and jalepeno peppers. You'll be very surprised how these flavours work together. This recipe uses Australian cup measurements
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Chicken Dishes, dinner, Maincourse
Cuisine Mexican Inspired
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kg chicken thigh fillets boneless about 6
  • 8 burritos 10 inch

Marinade

  • 150 gram dates fresh or dried (3/4 cup) cut1/2 and de seeded
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano a nice strong Mexican or Greek one
  • 3 Tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 Tablespoons Chipotle chilli *Salsa
  • 60 ml vinegar 3 Tablespoons, white or red wine
  • 400 gram crushed tomatoes 1 tin including the juice
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 40 ml oil 2 Tablespoons

Salsa

  • 2 each tomato diced into small cubes , 1 cup
  • 50 gram Spanish onion diced
  • 1/2 bunch coriander chopped
  • 1 small avocado diced. diced.
  • 5 gram salt and pepper
  • 20 ml lemon Juice 1 Tablespoon

Sliced Jalepeno peppers *

  • 100 gram cheddar cheese , grated

Instructions
 

  • Set the oven to 190-200 C/ 400 F. Prepare an oven tray lined with baking paper.
  • To start put the dates, spices, chipotle salsa, salt, vinegar and tomatoes into a medium pot and put on a low heat. Stir and squash the dates as they heat. They need to break down and purée into the sauce.
  • Taste it and add salt if needed. Set aside to cool a bit .
  • Make the salsa by adding the tomatoes, onions and coriander. and stirring together in a bowl. Set aside
  • Put the chicken into the marinade and coat very liberally. Put each piece onto the tray and add a bit more marinade if there is some left. ( discard the remainder- don't use unless it is cooked due to the raw chicken)
  • Bake the chicken for 15 - 20 minutes. Test one of the thighs in the thickest part to ensure they are cooked through. if a little pink put back into the oven for another 5-8 minutes.
  • Serve the chicken with burritos and salsa and grated cheese.

Notes

I like to Dice the onion and stand in boiling water for two minutes to take out the heat, before draining and adding to the salsa. This cuts some of the burn.

Mexican Inspired chicken with dates in a baking ddish

 

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Filed Under: Chicken and Poultry, Gluten Free, RECIPES Tagged With: burittos, burritos, Chicken, chipotle, chipotle chilli, Cooking with dates, Dates, Dinner., Mexican chicken rolls, Recipes, spicy chicken with dates

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cyndie

    August 16, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    Your photos are gorgeous. Dates are a very versatile ingredient.
    Cyndie recently posted..Shortcrust Pastry Express (using MyCook Premium)My Profile

    Reply
  2. Matt @ Inspired Food

    August 9, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Oh now this looks great, I have never thought of using dates with Mexican food, but now that it is in front of me it kinda makes sense 🙂
    Matt @ Inspired Food recently posted..Almost Campfire Baked BeansMy Profile

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      August 10, 2015 at 11:06 am

      I know it does seem unusual but it is perfect, Matt

      Reply
  3. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    July 14, 2015 at 11:50 am

    5 stars
    I get chicken and dates but Mexican? that’s inspired. 🙂
    Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..The Loose GooseMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    July 12, 2015 at 8:07 pm

    It really reminds me of a Middle Eastern or Moorish dish with those dates 🙂
    Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Warming Mulled Wine or Cider In The Slow Cooker!My Profile

    Reply
  5. Amanda (@lambsearshoney)

    July 12, 2015 at 10:15 am

    I love dates to bits – especially the big, fat Medjool dates. But what a novel idea to use them in Mexican cooking! I wouldn’t have thought of that.
    Amanda (@lambsearshoney) recently posted..Warming up Winter with MushroomsMy Profile

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 12, 2015 at 6:02 pm

      You would be surprised

      Reply
  6. Jen

    July 11, 2015 at 6:46 am

    The chicken looks so juicy and packed with flavor – can’t wait to try it!
    Jen recently posted..A Blissful Day in Budapest – Spa Capital of the WorldMy Profile

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 11, 2015 at 11:41 am

      Thanks Jen

      Reply
  7. Cassandrea

    July 11, 2015 at 12:28 am

    Oh my this looks incredible! I have some dates hanging around that I need to use – now I have a recipe to use them in!

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 11, 2015 at 11:41 am

      Thanks Cassandrea they do work very well

      Reply
  8. Joanne Bruno

    July 10, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    I’ve been eating dates as snacks a lot recently, but I’ve rarely seen them used in savory food! Love what you’ve done with them here.
    Joanne Bruno recently posted..Blueberry Cornmeal CakeMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Hotly Spiced

    July 10, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    We definitely need warming dishes like this during these terribly cold days. I love dates too and it’s true they have been around for thousands of years. I really love chicken with dates and coriander xx
    Hotly Spiced recently posted..It’s Passionfruit SeasonMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Insanely Roy

    July 10, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    Dates and chicken!
    I have an open mouth now!
    mexican recipes are anyway close to me..they are so flavourful. Add dates and i am all set.
    🙂

    #WeeklyChallenge for #FoodBloggers @ http://pieceofcerebrum.wordpress.com

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 11, 2015 at 11:49 am

      They reallly combine well with spices, no really!

      Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 11, 2015 at 11:49 am

      They really combine well with spices, no really!

      Reply
  11. Amanda@ChewTown

    July 10, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    Wouldn’t have thought to use dates in a dish like this. Looks so flavourful!

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 11, 2015 at 11:50 am

      Thanks Amanda

      Reply
  12. Brian Jones

    July 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    Dates are really popular with me but unfortunately not my wife, will maybe try and sneak some in and change her mind 😉

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 11, 2015 at 11:50 am

      Oh thats a shame Brian, they are just so beautiful and I love them

      Reply
  13. Bele @ BlahBlah

    July 10, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    Gah, this looks sensational. This dish reminds of the time I had chocolate in a savoury dish for the first time ever and nearly died and went to heaven. I can’t wait to try this. I never got round to talking flour with you, but I think of you every Friday when we make our pizza bases x
    Bele @ BlahBlah recently posted..Coconut chicken nuggets of goodnessMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid

    July 10, 2015 at 6:25 am

    Dates are great and this looks ah-mazing! What a winner of a dinner!

    Reply
  15. Dannielle@zamamabakes

    July 9, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    You had me at dates!
    I love baking with them, haven’t ventured into the savoury side of date baking before but you’ve got me feeling very tempted.
    Thanks for sharing some of your beautiful deliciousness over at FFF’s!
    Have a gorgeous weekend x
    Dannielle@zamamabakes recently posted..Fabulous Foodie Fridays #59My Profile

    Reply
  16. Angie@Angie's Recipes

    July 9, 2015 at 10:28 pm

    I adore dates and use them quite often in the baking, but would have never thought of using them in marinade. What a refreshing idea! I think I can even use it as the pasta sauce :-))
    Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Blueberry, Nectarine Spelt Cake with Yoghurt and AlmondMy Profile

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 9, 2015 at 10:41 pm

      Anything is on the table Angie!

      Reply

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Tania Cusack Hi, I'm Tania and this is My Kitchen Stories. I share all kinds of recipes here. Most recipes are quick and easy, just perfect for families. BUT, you could also find vegan, cakes and desserts too. Come and have a look around Read More
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