I was 9 when my little sister was born. I remember going into the hospital room to see her for the first time. my mom was starving and sent us out to get her what she craved...a Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich from Carl's Jr. A coupke of weeks ago I was on a road trip to a cousin's wedding. My kids were crying for some chicken nuggets so we stopped at a Carl's Jr. in Barstow. I, of course, ordered the Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich. For fast food it is a great chicken sandwich. Well, at least it is a great concept. I'm never totally satisfied with fast food burgers of any sort because they are just so much better at home with higher quality ingredients. And after the whole taco licking debacle, you never do know what the workers are actually doing with your food. By the way, that totally happened in a town we recently lived for 4 years. Anyway, this sandwich is delicious. It's full of flavors and has lots of different spicing combinations in it. You've got basically a teriyaki chicken combined with a spicy curry mayo, with the southwest flavors of the green chili and pepper jack cheese. It totally works! It's a great summer grilling alternative to the plain old burger. Give it a try and your next bbq!
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp crushed garlic
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 wheat hamburger buns
4 slices pepper jack cheese
4 whole green chili peppers, from can, patted dry
Instructions
1. Pound out each of the chicken breasts so that they are a fairly even thickness throughout. Marinate the chicken by combining the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and crushed garlic in a ziploc bag with the chicken breasts. Marinade for 30 minutes to an hour.
2. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high heat.
3. Make the sauce by combining the mayo, paprika, cayenne, curry powder, and salt in a bowl and mixing it up.
4. Grill the chicken for about 5-8 minutes each side. Actual time will depend on the thickness of your meat. The chicken is done when it is firm to the touch. Place the pepper jack slices on each piece of chicken during the last minute or so of cooking so it can melt.
5. Grill the buns face-side down for just a minute or two so that they are toasted. Spread the mayo mixture on the face of each bun. Top with cheese smothered chicken and green chili.
