Lunch: Spicy Chipotle Chicken Tostadas

Recipe by /contributors/nils-bernstein Known as tinga in Mexico, this popular tostada topping is tastiest with the addition of crumbled Mexican chorizo (a fresh sausage, unlike dried Spanish chorizo).

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Spicy Chipotle Chicken Tostadas

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

1/4 cup kosher salt, plus more to taste
2 pounds skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained
3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
1 medium white onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
4 ounces fresh Mexican chorizo (about 1/2 cup), casings removed, crumbled, fried until almost crisp (optional)

Instructions

Fill a large pot with 8 cups water; stir in 1/4 cup salt. Add chicken and simmer over medium-low heat until just cooked through, about 45 minutes. Drain, then chop or tear chicken into bite-size chunks. Discard bones.
Meanwhile, purée tomatoes, chiles, adobo sauce, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves in a blender until smooth.
Cook onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sweet and charred (you want more char than "caramelization"), 8 –10 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and fragrant, about 3 minutes longer.
Add tomato mixture to skillet (it will splatter), reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, about 30 minutes. Add chicken and chorizo, if using, and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is well-coated and moist and liquid is reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes more. Season with salt, if needed.