As my September Whole 30 experience winds down I am feeling fabulous, and although I have not weighed myself (per the rules) I know I have dropped some pounds because my pants are literally falling off. Very good things are afoot! In fact, I am so thrilled by these improvements that I created another new Paleo/Whole 30 recipe: Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Lime Cashew Sauce!
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The Tacos: From Scratch or Save Some Time!
I use ground chicken cooked with onions and spices, placed in lettuce wraps and topped with pico de gallo, avocado, and my tasty chipotle lime cashew sauce! That said, I always like to offer an easier version too. So if you want to take almost all the work out of this recipe, feel free to use store bought rotisserie chicken and store bought pico de gallo!
THE CHIPOTLE CASHEW SAUCE:
Eating Whole 30 means no tortillas, which in turn means the toppings have to be creative, flavorful and delicious! This Chipotle Cashew Sauce is super easy to make but does require ‘soaking’ time. To get the cashews soft enough to make a smooth sauce you need to soak them for at least three hours, so allow time for that. Once the cashews have softened you can place them in a food processor (or blender) with lime juice, garlic, water, chipotle chilis in adobo sauce, a little sea salt and black pepper and give it a whirl! Sixty seconds later you have a spicy sauce for your tacos! I have noticed one brand of chipotle chilis in adobo sauce that contained sugar, so be sure to read the label if you want to stay Whole 30/Paleo compliant. If you have leftover sauce you can make these sweet potato wedges tomorrow!
The Pico De Gallo:
You can use store bought Pico De Gallo for this recipe, or make your own.
The Finished Product:
Flavorful, filling, budget friendly and loaded with protein and healthy fats. And those romaine leaves have plenty of crunch so you won’t mis that tortilla! (much)
The Recipe: Whole 30/Paleo Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Lime Cashew Sauce
Chicken tacos served in Romaine lettuce wraps, topped with pico de gallo, avocados and a spicy chipotle lime cashew sauce.
- 2 cups simmering water for soaking cashews
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 large clove garlic
- 1 chipotle chili pepper in adobo sauce two if you like things really spicy!
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 cup water divided
- 2 medium tomatoes diced
- ½ of one medium white onion diced, see how here
- ¼ of one green bell pepper diced
- ½ -1 tsp serrano chilis finely chopped see how here
- 2 T fresh cilantro chopped
- Juice of half a lime
- sea salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken I like to use a combination of dark and white meat
- 1 teaspoon powdered garlic
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 ripe avocados sliced
- 8 cilantro sprigs
- 8 romaine lettuce leaves rinsed and patted dry
- 2 limes quartered for squeezing
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Bring water to simmer in small pan, turn off heat and add raw cashews to pot, allow to sit at least three hours
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Place peeled clove of garlic in food processor or blender and process until minced
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Strain cashews and discard cooking water
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Add soaked cashews, lime juice, olive oil, 1/4 cup water, sea salt, and 1 pepper in adobo sauce (two if you like things really spicy!)
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Process for one minute, if needed add more water to thin dip
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When dip is the consistency you want, and nice and smooth, stop processing. Taste and decide if it needs more sea salt or chipotle, then make adjustments accordingly.
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See instructions linked above for handling a hot chili pepper.Combine all ingredients except Serrano chili. Add chili 1/2 teaspoon at a time, mixing and tasting in between additions. When the heat is right, cover and refrigerate till serving. (I like 1 1/2 tsp)
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Place a large frying pan on medium heat. Drizzle olive oil into pan. When oil is hot but not smoking add onions and ground chicken to pan.
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Use a spatula to break up meat and stir frequently while cooking.
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Sprinkle chicken with chili powder, garlic powder, sea salt and pepper.
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While meat cooks, slice avocados, prepare lettuce and tear off cilantro springs.
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When meat is done (8-10 minutes) fill lettuce wraps with chicken, top with pico de gallo, avocado, chipotle cashew sauce and sprigs of cilantro. Squeeze with a little lime and enjoy!
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I am making that sauce ASAP! I have the ingredients on my shopping list! Thank you!
It’s so versatile!
Love this! Creamy, crunchy, fresh, I can taste it already!
That cashew saw sounds amazing! I love chipotle with lime!
I love lettuce tacos! These looks so delicious. You’re inspiring me for Taco Tuesday tomorrow!
These look so yummy – and I love working chipotle into sauces for that flavour hit!
I want to try that chipotle lime cashew sauce. Everything about it sounds amazing!
And it’s so easy!
that sauce looks delicious!
Those sauces can make all the difference, can’t they? What a creative way to spruce up the Whole 30!
They sure can! When on W30 you need to keep things interesting and sauces and dips really help!
I LOVE this taco version!!! It’s so helpful for those of us who can’t have grains … thank you!!! And that sauce, swoon!