Chipotle Marinated Chicken

This recipe is a great make-ahead recipe. Start the chicken marinating the night before your dinner party. If whole dried chipotles aren’t available, 2 canned chipotles in adobo sauce or 2 tsp. of ground chipotle powder may be substituted.

4 garlic cloves
5 dried chipotle chiles, reconstituted (see instructions below)
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 lime
½ tsp. ground cumin
black pepper, to taste
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

In a food processor, process garlic until minced. Add chipotle chiles and process until minced. Add cilantro, honey, vegetable oil, balsamic vinegar, lime juice, cumin, and black pepper; process until smooth. Pour over chicken; cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight (chicken may be marinated in a zip-lock plastic bag as well).

Preheat barbecue and grill chicken over medium-high heat, about 8 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in center.

Serves 8.

Note: To reconstitute chipotle chiles, simply cover them in boiling water and soak them for approximately 1 hour.