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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Homemade Chipotle

After moving to DC last spring and discovering the amazingness that is Chipotle, I have been hooked. I would eat it every day if I could. Unfortunately, there is not one within walking distance of our new home and there is not one within driving distance of my school. This makes me very sad. Today I seriously considered getting on the beltway at lunch time to drive the 10 miles there and back on my 30 minute lunch break. Unfortunately, that is NOT possible.

So what is a good problem solver to do? Find a way to make my own Chipotle, of course!

I found this recipe for the special Chipotle rice on RecipeZaar.com:

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil or butter
  • 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro
  • 2/3 cup white basmati rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 lime

Directions

  1. In a 2-quart heavy saucepan, heat oil or butter over low heat, stirring occasionally until melted.
  2. Add rice and lime juice, stir for 1 minute.
  3. Add water and salt, bring to a full rolling boil. (Some people have had success with 1 cup of water, but when I've made it with 2 it worked for me).
  4. At boiling, cover, turn down to simmer over low heat until rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
  5. Add in the cilantro and fluff rice with a fork.
I used a little more than 2 tablespoons of lime juice because I wanted to really be able to taste the lime. I also used 1 cup of long grain rice and 2 cups of water because that is what the directions on the back of the rice said. The rice was still a little undone, so I am guessing that can be fixed by adding a tad more water next time? Not sure....this is the first time I made rice that wasn't instant.

Doesn't it look just like the real stuff? It tasted exactly like it too!

(Excuse my dirty stove)

As for the rest of the burrito ingredients....

I made black beans for me and chicken for AJ. The black beans were easy. I opened a can and dumped them into the pan. Voila!

For the chicken I used Perdue Short Cuts. I heated the chicken strips in a pan for a few minutes, chopped them in my handy Slap Chop wannabe, returned it to the pan, and added a dash or ten of chipotle powder and cayenne pepper. AJ likes his food SPICY.
To top off the burritos I bought the traditional fare....pre-made of course. Wholly Guacamole might be my favorite guac ever because it tastes homemade. I like Sarah's Salsa because it is chunky and more similar to pico de gallo than traditional salsa. And the cheese....well, it is just Harris Teeter Mexican blend cheese. Sometimes a girl has got to be frugal! I bought tortillas as well, but apparently I didn't take a picture of them. The tortilla was the one thing that was noticeably different than what you get at Chipotle. It was much thicker and I couldn't figure out a way to steam it like they do in Chipotle. Oh well.
The whole process was kind of time consuming and way more expensive than buying two burritos at Chipotle since I had to buy normal size packages of all the ingredients. However, it was totally worth it. The burritos tasted very similar to the real thing. Also, we are big Mexican cuisine lovers in this house so I will surely use up the leftover ingredients.

Here is my finished product! If only I knew how to roll the burrito....

17 comments:

  1. I already ate dinner but this looks delic!! Those little package of guac are a gift from God. BEST THINGS EVER

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  2. i LOVE chipotle!!
    i have to try the rice recipe!!
    your burrito looks so nummy!!
    my fave from chipotle is the bowl with chicken and i love their corn, so spicy!
    now i have to go and soon!! it will be a craving until i have it ;)

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  3. I could live off of Chipotle rice. I love everything about it... the lime! the cilantro! Ah.... It is only 8am and I am wanting Chipotle for lunch. Thanks for the recipe.

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  4. I absolutely love Chipotle. I've only had it once, but it was to die for. I'm so excited to try this recipe!

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  5. I had chipotle for lunch on Monday..it was amazing!

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  6. I love Chipotle too!! The salad with chicken rocks (if you're wanting to mix it up a bit). Careful though, the "dressing" that comes with it is a little spicy, but so delish!

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  7. next time steam your tortilla - you can wrap it in a damp papertowl and pop it in the microwave or heat up a pan/skillet and put it in there for a little bit with a lid on... it takes no time and a hot flour tortilla can't be beat!
    (ps. Chipotle has the best guac & rice handsdown... but have you had Q'doba's queso? YUMMM!)

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  8. Yum!! I love Mexican food. We do Qdoba more than Chipotle, but both are delish!

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  9. Wow -my mouth is salavating! I'm definitely going to try it soon! I'm grateful that a Chipotle is within 5 min of my house. I will go there more often and be thankful for those less fortunate that have to drive on the beltway :)

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  10. Chipotle. Oh god...I love that stuff. I may have to try this because it's probably way healthier than Chipotle! I have tried so many times to get my rice like theirs but to no avail, I will need to try this!

    They usually use a press of some sort to flatten their tortillas before serving. I wonder if there's a way to do it by having the tortilla on a flat pan and pressing a pan atop it? It sounds SO ghetto as I think about it but maybe its possible? The things we'll do for a fix!

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  11. I can't roll wraps either. I just lift the bottom up, then fold/fold and secure with toothpicks. Ghetto.

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  12. I'm surprised to hear it was more expensive than buying the real thing- I figured this has got to be more healthier and cheaper than going out to what is also a favorite discovery of DC.

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  13. You've made me hungry now! I am so going to try this out at home. YUM!

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  14. I'm surprised to hear it was more expensive than buying the real thing- I figured this has got to be more healthier and cheaper than going out.
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  15. My husband loooooves Chipotle. You've inspired me to try to make it at home!

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  16. That looks so good! I have to try it out, and hope that a Chipotle opens up near me soon. :-)

    Thanks for sharing with TATT!

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