fiesta day recipe served on a plate, by Love Whole Foods Cafe and Market
Sep 07 2026

Fiesta Day Recipe

Time1h
Serves4

Make Fiesta Day Recipe in just 1h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Chicken & Marinade

Method

Chicken & Marinade

  1. 1

    Make the marinade

    In a medium bowl combine lime juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, minced chipotle, 1 1/2 tsp salt and 3/4 tsp black pepper. Whisk until well blended.

  2. 2

    Marinate the chicken

    Place chicken thighs in a shallow dish or resealable bag and pour marinade over them. Massage to coat evenly. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, ideally 2 hours (up to 6 hours).

  3. 3

    Cook the chicken

    Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat and add a light drizzle of oil. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Cook 5-6 minutes per side (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C) until nicely charred and cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes, then slice into strips.

Salsa & Toppings

  1. 4

    Prepare the salsa

    In a bowl combine diced tomatoes, corn, diced red onion, minced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, lime zest and juice from 1 lime, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir gently and taste-adjust seasoning. Cover and chill for at least 10 minutes to marry flavors.

  2. 5

    Prep cheese and avocado

    Crumble queso fresco (or feta) and slice the avocado just before assembly to prevent browning. Keep sour cream or crema chilled and hot sauce ready.

Rice & Beans

  1. 6

    Cook the rice

    Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 tsp minced garlic and 1/2 tsp cumin; cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add rinsed rice and toast 1 minute, stirring. Pour in 3 cups chicken broth, add 3/4 tsp salt, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest 5 minutes with lid on.

  2. 7

    Finish rice with beans and cilantro

    Fluff rice with a fork, stir in drained black beans and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Keep warm until serving.

Extras & Assembly

  1. 8

    Warm tortillas

    Warm tortillas on a dry skillet over medium heat 20-30 seconds per side, or wrap in foil and heat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes. Keep wrapped to stay warm.

  2. 9

    Assemble Fiesta Day plates or tacos

    For tacos: place warmed tortilla on plate, add a spoonful of rice and beans, top with sliced chicken, spoonful of tomato-corn salsa, a few avocado slices, a drizzle of sour cream or crema, sprinkle of queso fresco, and cilantro sprig. Serve with lime wedge and hot sauce on the side. For plates: arrange rice and beans, chicken strips, salsa, avocado and tortillas on the side for family-style serving.

  3. 10

    Serve

    Serve immediately while chicken and tortillas are warm. Leftovers keep well refrigerated in separate containers for up to 3 days (reheat chicken and rice thoroughly).

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