February 2, 2011

Chicken Fingers with Spicy Avocado Sauce

Can you believe that I didn't like avocado until the age of 23?! Yeah, I can hardly believe it either! What was I thinking?! The green color of it used to turn me off. And everytime I tried guac I thought it tasted like nothing, and I didn't like the consistency. Thank goodness that taste buds change as we age, because otherwise I would have missed out on some good stuff. I think Chipotle was the place to change my mind about guac. Their's is the best.

So now I LOVE guac and all things avocado! The thing is, I haven't made many things avocado-related besides that yummy corn, avocado, and tomato salad (speaking of.... we sure haven't made that in awhile... it just may show up on a menu plan soon!). I knew we had to make this chicken recipe with an avocado dipping sauce! We weren't disappointed, and I knew we wouldn't be : )



Chicken Fingers with Spicy Avocado Sauce
adapted from Taste and Tell

Chicken fingers:
  • 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1.25 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
Spicy Avocado Sauce:
  • 2 small avocados, pitted and peeled
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 2 tbsp diced jalapenos
  • 1 tbsp diced onions
  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 tsp hot sauce, or more to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Combine the bread crumbs and all of the seasonings for the chicken fingers in a shallow dish. Mix well. Dip the chicken strips in to coat evenly, and tap off excess. Lay the chicken strips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Spray the tops with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mash the avocado and sour cream together with a fork. Fold in the jalapenos, onions, lime juice, cilantro, and hot sauce then season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the chicken fingers with the avocado sauce on the side for dipping.



And as usual, I am linking up to my lonnnnnnng list of linky parties!
Potluck Sunday
Recipe Swap Sunday
Tailgating Time!
Sundays at One Food Club
Seasonal Sunday
Mouthwatering Monday 
Hunk of Meat Monday
Delicious Dishes
This Week's Craving
Tasty Tuesday @ 33 Shades of Green
Hearth N Soul
Tuesday Night Supper Club
Tuesdays at the Table
Mostly Made By You
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Totally Tasty Tuesday
Tasty Tuesday @ Mother of Pearl It Is
Tasty Tuesday @ Balancing Beauty & Bedlam
What's On Your Plate?
Delectable Tuesday
Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday
What's Cooking Wednesday @ Tales from the Fairy Blogmother
Recipes I Can't Wait Try
Show Off Your Stuff
Recipe Swap Thursday
Tasty Traditions
Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
Full Plate Thursday
Ultimate Recipe Swap
Cooking Thursday
Tip Day Thursday
Frugal Food Thursday
It's A Keeper Thursday
Foodie Friday
Family Friendly Friday
Friday Potluck
Food Trip Friday
Friday Favorites
Fat Camp Friday
What's Cookin' in the Kitchen
Fun With Food Friday
Flavorful Fridays 
Food on Fridays



***January was another not-so-good blogging month for me. A few more posts than November and December, but I wanna get back to my days of 20 or 30 posts a month. I hope to get in another post today : ) 


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26 comments:

  1. CassieFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    I have these starred from Deborah's site! They look absolutely delicious. And like you, I was late to my avocado love, and ALSO like you, it was Chipotle that turned me! :)

    And thank you so much for the award! I need to thank you properly on my blog -- I will definitely try to do that soon! :)

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  2. Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKINGFebruary 2, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Thanks so much for linking to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS, we appreciate it very much!

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  3. Mostly Food and CraftsFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    Your avocodo sauce sounds amazing! Thanks for linking up to Mostly Made By You!

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  4. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Ok... Desi, now you are speaking my language!!! Spicy guac...there is not better way to enjoy it!! The chicken fingers look really good too!!

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  5. Leah BeyerFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    Love this. Love the spicy avacado dip the most. Can't wait to make it! Thanks for linking up to Hunk of Meat Monday! See you next week.

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  6. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    I was the same way! I wouldnt have anything to do with avacado when I was younger.. Now I cant live without some guacamole baby! Yours sounds delish!! : )

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  7. MelissaFebruary 2, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    These look great! I'm not a huge fan of avacado, but I think I'm going to try this :)

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  8. TreeFebruary 2, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Love chicken fingers AND guacamole!! I'll have to try this recipe. Thanks for linking up for TT!

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  9. DesiFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    @Cassie and Holly... thank goodness we opened our eyes to the greatness that is avocado!

    @Thanks Tina! I hope to be back next week with some Valentine goodies.

    @Danielle, yeah that avocado sauce is the bomb! lol :)

    @Jenn... heck yeah! Add more hot sauce if you want it spicier... I may do that next time!

    @Leah.... THANK YOU for hosting such a wonderful link party! I love meat (hince my blog name!!)... yours is the first meat-centered linky party I have seen.

    @Melissa ... If you try it, I hope this recipe can change your mind about avocado.

    @Tree... Definitely give it a try if you like both!

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  10. JulieFebruary 3, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    I LOVE avocado too and we try to put it in as many recipes as we can. This looks delicious and can't wait to try it. I am a new follower and would a follow back at thefarmgirlrecipes.blogspot.com.

    Thanks, The Farm Girl

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  11. HaleyLeannFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    Oh my goodness!!! This looks like my perfect meal! I {heart} all of the ingredients...especially avocado. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it! Thanks for linking up on Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!

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  12. EmilyFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Wow, this sounds so good! I love chicken fingers!

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  13. Mandy BirdFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    Hey you should link up at my Totally Tasty Tuesdays while you're at it!

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  14. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Dropped by from Miz Helen's Blog. It's a beautiful dish and I will definitely give it a try. And I am following you too :)
    www.kankanasaxena.net

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  15. DesiFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    Thanks everyone!

    Sunshine, I am going to check out your blog too : )

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  16. SandraFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    Wow the spicy guacamole caught my attention, definitely giving that a try next time I make it.

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  17. UnknownFebruary 4, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    I used to bring nothing but an avocado as my lunch when I was in high school (explains why I was stick thin back then) I loved them so much! Maybe I should start doing that again...

    https://jennoreilly.wordpress.com/

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  18. UnknownFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    yum...this would be so great for superbowl sunday. thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club!

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  19. MrsJenBFebruary 5, 2011 at 12:21 AM

    I love just about anything avocado related, too! Avocados were on sale today, I can only imagine with the thought of Superbowl = guacamole or something. Now I wish I'd picked some up so I could dip some chicken strips in some avocado sauce! Dang.

    I'll definitely be bookmarking this one! Visiting from It's a Keeper

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  20. CheerfulFebruary 5, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    sounds yummy...love to try your recipe! thanks for sharing! happy weekend! :)

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  21. Ann KroekerFebruary 5, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    When you said you didn't start liking avocados until you were 23, I started wondering when I opened up my mind to reconsider it. I'm sure I turned it down when I was young, because I was a picky eater. Now avocados are one of my favorite foods of all. My husband, knowing how much I love them, will bring home two or three instead of flowers as a romantic gesture. :)

    So glad you linked to Food on Fridays. I'll be making a variation on your salad this evening. Yum!

    annkroeker.com

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  22. MarthaFebruary 5, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    Hi Desi,
    Thanks for linking up to Tailgating Time! Hope you will join us again tomorrow for the big Super Bowl party! :-)

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  23. ChristyFebruary 7, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    LOL - I didn't like guacamole until I was an adult either - I think it is an acquired taste. That and tasting some good guac makes all the difference. I like your version - yum! I am late but thanks for linking this to the hearth and soul hop!

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  24. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    I love avocado's. This a great recipe. Thanks for sharing and please join us again.

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  25. HaleyLeannFebruary 10, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    BTW, You've been featured. ;-) http://bit.ly/eGVB4O

    ReplyDelete
  26. Jersey Girl CooksFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    Great sauce to go with the chicken!

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