I find if I follow package instructions, food sometimes doesn't come out as good as it could. I made fajitas last week, and the Ortega Fajita seasoning packet said to cook the chicken first and then add the onion, bell peppers, seasoning, water and then cook on medium for 6 minutes or so. They didn't come out very well in my opinion -- not nearly as good as the local Mexican place makes them.
So today I made them again (wife loves fajitas). But this time I had the cast iron really, really hot. And I threw in the veggie oil, chicken for only a couple of minutes before tossing in the goodies (red, green bell peppers, whole diced onion, fresh cracked pepper, sea salt). And I cooked it all for a nice long time to get some flavor in there. I got a little char action going, and then I put in the water and fajita seasoning and cooked it another 10 minutes.
I guess this super high heat is how pro chefs cook. Don't be afraid of going super hot with the pan. The fajitas were really yummy tonight. And instead of cooking the tortillas in the oven, I cooked them in a pan with a bit of butter.
I actually was going to buy some tequila at the store so I could dump a little in the cast iron skillet and set it on fire. Like the local Mexican place does it (I guess they use tequila?), but the grocery store doesn't sell tequila (only beer -- darn Ohio liquor laws).
So today I made them again (wife loves fajitas). But this time I had the cast iron really, really hot. And I threw in the veggie oil, chicken for only a couple of minutes before tossing in the goodies (red, green bell peppers, whole diced onion, fresh cracked pepper, sea salt). And I cooked it all for a nice long time to get some flavor in there. I got a little char action going, and then I put in the water and fajita seasoning and cooked it another 10 minutes.
I guess this super high heat is how pro chefs cook. Don't be afraid of going super hot with the pan. The fajitas were really yummy tonight. And instead of cooking the tortillas in the oven, I cooked them in a pan with a bit of butter.
I actually was going to buy some tequila at the store so I could dump a little in the cast iron skillet and set it on fire. Like the local Mexican place does it (I guess they use tequila?), but the grocery store doesn't sell tequila (only beer -- darn Ohio liquor laws).
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