If you can't bear the idea of tacos without tortillas or crispy shells, look away now, but this low carb, low-fat version isn't just for dieters. It's a lovely, fresh way of eating Mexican-style food and doesn't compromise on flavour. If you're still not convinced, mix it up and offer taco shells and warmed tortillas in addition to the lettuce leaves, but we honestly didn't miss their presence.
Prepare to be amazed: this is an extremely healthy recipe. I know, not usually my modus operandi. The only real fat in it is the small amount used to cook the chicken. Well, ok, plus that in the yoghurt (but think of the calcium) and the avocado (monounsaturated fat, the good kind, plus around 20 vitamins and minerals). It's also a good way of making two chicken breasts stretch to four people. More to the point, it's delicious.
You can add and subtract with the various salsas and trimmings although I love the traffic light colours and the varying textures and flavours, from crunchy and creamy to sharp and sweet. Vegetarians could omit the chicken and add a bowl of crumbled feta.
Lettuce Leaf Tacos With All The Trimmings (serves 4)
Ingredients for the chicken:
2 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1/2 to 1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
The juice and zest of 1 lime
1 fat clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
2-3 tomatoes, grated and skins discarded
Salt and pepper
1 Cos lettuce, to serve
For the pepper and tomato salsa:
1 red pepper, de-seeded and diced
300g tomatoes, de-seeded
1 small red onion, chopped
Lime juice, to taste
Salt and pepper
A handful of roughly chopped coriander
For the sweetcorn salsa:
1 x 326g tin of sweetcorn
1 large medium-hot red chilli, de-seeded and sliced
Lime juice, to taste
Salt and pepper
For the guacamole:
2 ripe avocados, peeled, de-stoned and roughly mashed
1 stick of celery, strings removed, finely chopped
Yet more lime juice
Salt, pepper and cayenne pepper, to taste
For the yoghurt:
About 250ml Greek yoghurt (low-fat if you like)
1-2 fat cloves of garlic, crushed
A good pinch of salt
Method:
Mix the marinade ingredients for the chicken. Cut the chicken into strips across the grain and put it all in a sealable plastic bag. Massage the marinade into the chicken and place in the fridge overnight or for at least four hours.
Just before you want to eat, make the salsas. Chop and mix the ingredients for each, place in bowls and garnish with fresh coriander. It may sound weird to put celery in guacamole but (thanks for the tip, big sis) it works.
Break the leaves off the lettuce, leaving them whole, and arrange on a plate.
Put a griddle pan or heavy-based frying pan on a high heat and brush with oil. Drain the chicken and pat dry on kitchen roll. Fry the chicken in batches until it's golden brown and cooked through.
Put everything on the table and let people fill their own lettuce leaf tacos. Messy but good and great for a family supper.