Chicken Salbutes

If you're on a diet then this recipe is not for you, step away from the computer, lol. This recipe stems from the Mayans many years ago and is a dish you'll find often in southern Mexico, Belize, or any place with a Mayan background. This is my version of these tasty treats and like so many recipes, everyone has their own way of making them.

You make your own little tortillas using corn flour and water. You press them with a tortilla press and deep fry them until golden brown. The dough puffs up as it fries and browns really nicely. Top that with the chicken, lettuce and tomato and you have one of my favorite dishes, when I'm not dieting...

For those of you that are not familiar with Recado, it's a paste made out of achiote seeds, you should be able to find it in any Mexican import store. It's brick red in colour and is like a thick paste. You dissolve it in hot water before adding to your pot. If you're lucky (like I was) and can get some that was made by one of the Natives you're in for the best stuff!
Chicken Sabutes
1 cooked chicken, de-boned & chopped (I love to use chicken that's leftover from making my own broth or you could use a rotisserie chicken)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1-2 tsp Recado paste, dissolved in a small amount of hot water
salt
pepper

Once you have everything chopped and in a pot, add enough water or soup broth to barely cover the chicken. (If using water you should add about a tbsp of chicken bouillon) Gently boil this until the water has evaporated, but not too dry.

Tortillas:
2 cups flour (Masa Harina)
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups water

Mix this until you have a nice dough, you may need to adjust the water. Shape into about 1 1/2" balls and flatten with a tortilla press, your tortillas should be small, about 4 or 5 inches in diameter. You will want to use sheets of wax paper or plastic in between the press to keep it from sticking. Fry in hot oil, they will puff up. Once brown, flip and brown the other side. Now you top them with the chicken, lettuce and tomato. You could also top them with hot peppers or whatever else you prefer.

Bet you can't just eat one! Lol
Tina