Jersey Takes The Chipotle Challenge!

While living aboard you miss some of the comfort food from home. Although there are plenty of American fast food eateries to choose from only one remained on my mind. This place hasn’t arrived on UAE soil yet but the taste is mexican and delicious. This food institution values fresh ingredients and front row cooking. Can you Guess? It’s Chipotle! Chipotle is one of my favorite places to eat when I travel back to the US with my husband.

I looked at this photo of us last October eating there and caught the CRAVE! I went into research mode so I could create a copy cat recipe for Chipotle’s burritos bowl. First I thought about what I order when I am there:

Cilantro Lime Rice
Pinto Beans
Steak and Chicken
Corn Salsa
Pico de Gallo
Romaine
Cheese

Once I imagined my order I ran straight the store after researching several online recipes. I get to the store going through the aisles focusing on flavor and trying to find the right ingredients. Shopping in UAE for a range of spices can be difficult at times due to the limited selection. I checked nearly everything off my list but ancho chilies. I was mortified and went into a small panic wondering what I could do to replace the chilies. Then I decided to make it my own. I brought some spicy fajita cooking sauce and went into CHOPPED mode.

The shopping was finally done and now it was time for me to get cooking. Before I prepare anything I taste all my ingredients making sure they are fresh. Freshness is the main staple at all Chipotle restaurants. After the fresh check I started to assemble the items that were most important and needed time to develop. The salsa’s and the meat.

The Corn Salsa and Pico De Gallo

These two items were super simple and quick. I said screw chopping I am going to use my food processor. I chopped tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and green chilli. Once chopped added salt and pepper to taste along with lime juice. Only downfall from using the processor is that some of the pieces aren’t unified. If you want precision you must chop all items yourself.

After tasting the pico de gallo I stored it in a bowl in the fridge for the flavors to marry. I then moved onto my corn salsa. What I did was take a bag of frozen sweet corn and thawed. Once the corn was thawed I tasted for sweetness. Mine wasn’t that sweet so I added a tsp of sugar and mixed well. Then chop red onion, green chilli, and cilantro. Lastly added lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Once completed I also stored my corn salsa in the fridge to develop flavors overnight.

Marination of the Meats

I took two sirloin steaks and marinated them in lime juice, cilantro, salt, pepper, and a splash of fajita cooking sauce. Once I coated the meat with the marinade throughly I cut raw red onion and let the flavor sink into the meat. I sat the meat in the fridge to marniate for 24 hours. If you’re in a hurry and want it the same day you can get away with six hours of marination but over night is best. I took the same marinade steps with the chicken breast. I covered them in the mixture and place them in the fridge for 24 hours.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Some recipes used Basmati rice but I used Uncle Bens. I would soak the rice for 10 minutes to remove the starch. The more starch removed the less the rice grains stick together. Cook rice and then fluff with a fork leaving the grains separated. Add lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Stir it and it’s ready to serve.

Cheese

I used a White Cheddar and a Cow’s Milk cheese mixture. It was delicious. I suggest any combo you want as long as its white cheese. I think Chipotle uses Monterey Jack and Sharp White Cheddar. I used Cow’s milk cheese due to its mild flavor like Jack cheese. UAE doesn’t have Jack cheese yet so I had to improvise.

Pinto Beans

There are two ways this can be done. You can take the long way or a short cut. The long way would be soaking the pinto beans for a few hours and then adding them to a slow cooker. Flavoring the beans with salt, pepper, garlic, onions, chilli powder, paprika, and of course bacon! Let these beans cook slow through out the night and your done.

Short cut would be in a can. Now if you take the short cut you will have to doctor them up depending on the brand. Before adding any seasonings taste the beans as they are to make sure you don’t over season. I made two cans of beans. I poured off the bean water from one of the cans and kept the bean water from another. I then tasted them and used the same seasonings that were listed in the long way and cook the beans on low heat for 2 hours. Simmer them until ready to serve.

Preparing the Meat…

It’s Grill time Bithces!Everyone knows that Chipotle grills their meat due to the front row seat you have when waiting on line. Break out those grill pans and make them smoking hot! Wiping some of the cilantro marinade away I salt and peppered the steak then laid them in the grill pan and cook to my desired doneness. In Chipotle they cook the meat medium rare but if you like yours well done cook the meat longer. By cooking the meat longer it might remove its juicyness.

Remove steaks from grill pan and allow the meat to rest for 8 minutes tented in foil.

Wipe out your grill pan and lay your chicken breast into cook. Thick chicken breast scares some people but I am going to teach you a secret. Grill the show side of the chicken with beautiful grill marks. Once you have achieved the marks pour a shallow amount of water in the grill pan and cover with foil. Make sure the chicken is show side up revealing those marks. The water is then deglazing the pan and cooking the meat in its own juices.

This creates moisture, tenderness, and EXTREME flavor. Let chicken cook for 8 mins on bottom side or until the juices run clear. Then allow the chicken to rest before cutting. Now that your meat has rested, cube and separate into bowls. If you see some left over meat juices on the plates from where your meat was resting throw it onto of the cubed meat. Can we say YUM!

Now to finish up I chopped some lettuce and limes for my garnish. At this point we are ready to build the bowl. I found these cute bowls at the local store that had that same oval shape as the ones at chipotle to complete my mexican inspired meal. Did I mention they were bright Orange? Those bowls were ready for the party.

I built my bowl the same way they do at Chipotle. Rice at the bottom then pinto beans, steak, chicken, pico de gallo, corn salsa, lettuce, and cheese.

The Results

I tasted my bowl and the flavors were VERY similar to Chipotle. My husband raved that it was better than Chipotle! I loved its freshness and beautiful flavor. I know now if I ever get the craving again that I can bring a piece of home into my kitchen. I hope this helps you if you are feening for this mexican treat. Enjoy!