Cinco de Mayo is a relatively insignificant holiday on the Mexican calendar. However, among Americans, Cinco de Mayo has become an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and cuisine. Each year on May 5, many Cinco de Mayo celebrants toast with their favorite agave-based beverage (typically tequila) and dine on Mexican specialties.

Visiting a Mexican restaurant may be a large part of Cinco de Mayo festivities. Those who want to keep the party closer to home can bring the tastes of Mexico right to their kitchens. “Chicken Flautas” are a light meal or snack that make ideal finger foods. In this recipe, courtesy of “The Complete Mexican, South American & Caribbean Cookbook” (Metro Books) by Jane Milton, Jenni Fleetwood and Marina Filippelli, common ingredients are turned into a crispy, fried delight.

Chicken Flautas

Makes 12

2          skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1          onion

2          garlic cloves

1          tablespoon vegetable oil

31⁄2       ounces feta cheese, crumbled

12         corn tortillas, freshly made or a few days old

            Oil for frying

            Salt and ground pepper

For the salsa:

3          tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

            Juice of 1⁄2 lime

            Small bunch of cilantro, chopped

1⁄2        small onion, finely chopped

3          fresh fresno chiles or similar fresh

            green chiles,

            seeded and chopped

1. Start by making the salsa. Mix the tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, onion, and chiles in a bowl. Season with salt to taste and set aside.

2. Put the chicken breasts in a large pan, add water to cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it cool a little. Using two forks, shred the chicken into small pieces. Set it aside.

3. Chop the onion finely and crush the garlic. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and garlic and fry over a low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onion has softened but not colored. Add the shredded chicken, with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, remove from the heat, and stir in the feta.

4. Before they can be rolled, soften the tortillas by steaming three or four at a time on a plate over boiling water for a few moments, until they are pliable. Alternatively, wrap them in microwave-safe film and then heat them in a microwave oven on full power for about 30 seconds.

5. Place a spoonful of the chicken filling on one of the tortillas and roll tightly to make a neat cylinder. Secure with a toothpick, immediately cover the roll with plastic wrap to prevent the tortilla fry drying out and splitting. Fill and roll the remaining tortillas in the same way.

6. Pour oil into a frying pan to a depth of 1 inch. Heat it until a small cube of bread, added to the oil, rises to the surface and bubbles at the edges before turning golden. Remove the toothpicks, then add the flautas to the pan, a few at a time.

7. Fry the flautas for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, turning frequently. Drain on paper towels and serve at once, with the salsa.

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