It’s always taco season, so let’s do something a little fall with them this time, eh? Harissa chicken and squash tacos.
It’s rare that I opt for the pre-marinated meats or products at the grocery story. My thought is that I always have the ingredients to do this at home, so I’m rarely willing pay more for them. The exception to this practice was Trader Joe’s harissa marinated chicken thighs.
They are my favorite. Spicy, but not too. Easy to throw into the oven. Full of flavor. Good on sandwiches, salads or just as they are. Pairs well with other flavors. They are the reason that I didn’t’ feel the need to cook anything original all summer long. Until…they were discontinued.
DISCONTINUED.
My friends and I let out a collective “BUT WHY” since it turned out to be a staple in all of our houses. I mean, what would I eat now?? Well, turns out for the good of myself and my friends that I needed to figure out the secret to the marinade. My friend and I even went so far as to ask the guys at TJs for the super secret recipe. The poor cashier actually did try, and he gave us enough guidance that I was able to recreate it very successfully at home. So successfully that I can’t really distinguish in my memory mine from theirs.
The secret really is Trader Joe’s pre-made harissa paste. I’m sure you could use any brand you like, but just know that this recipe is based on theirs. I say this because theirs is HOT. Like, burn-your-intestines- hot if used too freely. I tempered that heat with a greater proportion of tomato paste, and simply added some lemon, salt and olive oil to round it out. I baked this chicken in the toaster oven until cooked through with a deliberate char on top and served it over roasted butternut squash (because ’tis the season), some lemon-marinated onions, and a dash of feta, all wrapped in a street-style corn tortilla. These harissa chicken and squash tacos are the perfect little fall package.
Harissa Chicken and Squash Tacos
Harissa chicken and squash tacos are harissa marinated chicken thighs, roasted squash, feta and marinated onions and make for delicious fall themed tacos!
Ingredients
- Harissa chicken and squash tacos are harissa marinated chicken thighs, roasted squash, feta and marinated onions and make for delicious fall themed tacos!
Directions
- Step 1 For the harissa chicken:
- Step 2 6 ounces tomato paste (1 can)
- Step 3 2 heaping TB spicy harissa paste
- Step 4 1/4 cup olive oil
- Step 5 1 tsp salt
- Step 6 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
- Step 7 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Step 8 For the squash:
- Step 9 4 cups butternut squash, cubed
- Step 10 1 TB olive oil
- Step 11 1 tsp salt
- Step 12 1 tsp back pepper
- Step 13 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Step 14 For the onion:
- Step 15 1 large red onion, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
- Step 16 2 lemons, juiced (about 1/4-1/3 cup)
- Step 17 1 tsp salt
- Step 18 For the rest:
- Step 19 12 corn tortillas, charred or warmed
- Step 20 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Step 21 Parsley, to garnish (about 1/2 cup)
