Recipes

Flaming chicken fajitas

Chicken fajitas with bell peppers, garnished with cilantro, served on a plate with guacamole, salsa, and tortillas in the background.

I know it is a bit odd a Brit publishing a fajitas recipe, but this is the result of many years of extensive research both in restaurants and on the Web. Fajitas are a very serious business.

I think I have honed this to be the best I have had, better even than I had in San Diego. Of course if you have better, do invite me over to try.

These quantities serve 3 to 4.

For the maranade

  • The juice and pulp of 1 lime
  • ¼ cup of tequila — not the good stuff
  • ¼ cup light olive or canola oil
  • A generous handful of roughly chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 cloves of garlic, smashed and roughly chopped
  • 1 small green chilli, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground
  • 2 true red peppercorns, ground (or black pepper)
  • A pinch of salt
  • The main event

  • 2 or 3 chicken breasts
  • 1 large onion, sliced into ¼” segments
  • 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into ¼” strips
  • 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, as above (optional)
  • A little oil, preferably in a spray container
  • To finish

  • 1 shot of tequila
  • ½ lime
  • A good sprinkling of chopped fresh cilantro
  • Serve with

  • Guacamole – there are plenty of choices here, just don’t buy it ready made
  • Salsa or Pico de Gala
  • Sour cream (optional)
  • Monterey Jack cheese, grated
  • Flower tortillas, 2-3 per person
  • Mixing cup
  • Plastic food bag
  • Ridged Griddle plate
  • Tongs
  • The day before (or an hour before of you’re just not that organized)

  • Mix all the marinade ingredients together in an oversized teacup, or any other suitable bowl. Remember to set aside some of the cilantro for later.
  • Cut the chicken into ¼ inch strips, across the fiber of the meat.
  • Place the chicken in a bag and pour in the marinade.
  • Seal the bag with a tie or clip removing most of the air.
  • Squidge the meat about a bit through the bag to ensure it is all coated.
  • Refrigerate overnight (or leave out if you did not preprepare), re-squidging and turning every now and then.
  • To cook

  • Heat the griddle plate.
  • In a bowl, spray the onions and peppers with a little oil.
  • Griddle the vegetables until they have softened slightly and browned, then remove them to a bowl.
  • Lay the chicken strips carefully on to the griddle. Cook for 3-4 minutes turning occasionally.
  • Return the vegetables to the griddle and mix well.
  • To heat the tortillas follow the instructions on the package. As I usually forget them until I get to this point, I go for the microwave method.
  • To show off

  • With some very good gloves, transfer the griddle plate to the center of the table onto robust heat-proof mats or a trivet.
  • When everyone is watching, pour on the tequila and carefully light with a candle lighter at arms length
  • After the flames have gone out, squeeze on the lime and sprinkle the remaining cilantro
  • To eat

  • If you don’t know how to eat fajitas, why the hell did you make them?

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