When I worked at El Torito in La Jolla we would have some special now and then and this was one of my favorite. Simple, fresh, and flavorful with great textures, the creaminess of the avocado and the crunch of the roasted pepitas really made this just what it is, special.
Grilled lime cilantro chicken
- 2 - 3 lbs. chicken breast
Marinade
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Zest from 2 limes
- Juice from 2 limes
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 3 twists fresh ground pepper or 1/4 tsp
Salsa
- 1 haas avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup pepitas, roasted pumpkin seeds
Start by splitting the breasts lengthwise and lightly pounding them between plastic wrap with a meat mallet, smooth side. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade holding 1/3 back for salsa, us the remainder to marinade the chicken breast for 20 - 30 minutes but no more than 1 1/2 hours. Over a medium high heat grill cook the chicken 5 - 6 minutes per side, remove from the heat and let the grilled chicken rest for 5 minutes. Take the marinade that was set aside and add the diced haas avocado and pepitas, toss lightly and serve over the top of the grilled chicken. You can serve with lime wedges for some extra tang.