How to make Chicken Chipotle Tostadas in Korea

EDITOR’S NOTE: Chipotle peppers recently turned up at local E-Marts. In celebration of this find, guest blogger Noe A. has given us this recipe. It’s not a Korean dish, but it’s another dish that people living in Korea can make. Avocado is optional, corn tortillas can be substituted with flour tortillas, and lemon juice can replace lime juice. Cilantro can also be found in Chinese grocery stores.

When it comes to international food, it may be difficult to come across a restaurant which provides both the authenticity and taste to backup their menu. Notably, despite the simple ingredients used to prepare Mexican food, finding a good Mexican restaurant can be tough in Korea, even in Seoul. Here is a quick and easy recipe for anyone wishing for nostalgic moment from back home featuring Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce.

Ingredients
Chicken (whole or with bone)
Chipotles in Adobo Sauce cans (can be found in Itaewon Foreigner Food Martket & Emart now)
Sliced onions
Corn/Vegetable Oil* (Not soy nor olive)
Salt
Avocado or guacamole
Corn Tortillas
(Shredded Cheese Optional)
(Sour Creme Optional)

Boil the chicken for 90 minutes with sliced onions and add salt.
Afterwards, cool down and debone.

On a skillet, add the chicken and 2-3 small cans of Chipotle in Adobo Sauce. Keep stirring on low flame.
Personally I crush the peppers into smaller pieces while stirring but you can slice them up before if you prefer, just be sure they are small pieces. Add slices of onion. And keep mixing.

You can buy frozen corn tortillas in either the International Food Market or Foreigner Food market in Itaewon. Probably in eMart or homeplus too.

On a skillet add the corn or vegetable oil. Once it is heated enough, add a whole tortilla until it is crispy and light golden brown.
Should be quick. Set aside on a dish covered with napkins to absorb the oil.

Repeat until you have the desired amount. Salt lightly afterwards.

Get a tostada, top with the chicken chipotle mixture.
Add slices of avocado.

Optionally add Pico de Gallo*
Optionally use guacamole instead of avacado*
Optionally add cheese or sour creme*
*Can use tortilla chips if no tortillas are to be found*
(Personally I like to add all)

Optional Topping:
Guacamole:

Ingredients
Avocado
Lime juice
Onion
Tomato
Peppers
Salt

*You can buy lime juice in bottles in many stores now, foreigner food market or International Food Store in Itaewon have them. Lazy Lime or Goya brand lime bottles. Can be bought online and at: http://www.thearrivalstore.com/lazy-lime.html
Guacamole is relatively simple to make, you can buy the frozen avocados at the foreigner food market or you can buy the whole avocados. Usually they aren’t ripe, so put them in a paper bag for a few days before and they’ll be fine.

Unseed the tomatoes.
Finely chop the tomatoes and onions.
Shred 1 spicy green pepper (jalapeno if you can)
Add to skillet (no oil) and lightly toast.

Either add to a bowl then mix with the crushed avacado – If you want it chunky.
Or blend then add to crushed avacado – smoother.
Add some lime juice (keeps it green)
Add salt.

Optional Topping 2:
Pico De Gallo

Ingredients
Tomato
Onion
Spicy green pepper (Jalapeno if you can)
Lime Juice
Salt
Cilantro

Deseed the tomatoes, then dice.
Dice the onion.
Deseed the pepper and shred.
Slice the cilantro to pieces.
Mix, add lime juice and salt.

You don’t NEED cilantro but try to if you can, can be found in many stores in Korea now, if no then Itaewon’s Foreigner food market carries it.

Pretty simple,not quite difficult ingredients to find, and guaranteed Mexican food in Korea.