El Pollo Loco Chicken

[CraigSca]

Had my first experience with this place while in San Jose earlier this week. Love, love, love the chicken. Not suprisingly, we can't get this stuff in Delaware. Anyone know of a place where I can get a recipe for this stuff online? I did my usual Google search and only came up with a single recipe that looked plausible (lemon juice, lime juice, tumeric) and it tasted nothing like the real thing.

I realize this is probably a stretch of the FOFC's capabilities, but just thought I'd throw this request out there, anyway.

[thetrilogy]

I once got Chili's Chicken Enchilada Soup secret recipe. It rocks.

These may be all of the same recipe or not. Good luck.

http://www.recipezaar.com/123300

http://www.recipesource.com/misc/copycat/00/rec0065.html

http://www.elook.org/recipes/entree/36076.html

http://recipes.chef2chef.net/recipe-archive/41/221929.shtml

[QuikSand]

I can't help with the search, but I (another deprived Easterner) was similarly impressed with EPL on my recent Vegas trip.

[CraigSca]

Thanks Trilogy. Recipes 2, 3 and 4 all are the same and the one I tried last night. My wife actually dipped the chicken in barbecue sauce - a testament to the fact that it tasted nothing like the restaurant version (unfortunately).

Oh well...I thought this would be a stretch.

[Thomkal]

Craig,

I'm not familiar with El Pollo Loco, but I went to their website and found a page of recipes and a recipe book link. I figured you looked there already, but just in case here's the link:

http://www.elpolloloco.com/menu/recipebook.html

[Lorena]

Hey Craig,

I've got a book called Top Secret Recipes: Treasury II and it has TONS of restaurant favorites and I actually found a few El Pollo Loco recipes:

BRC Burrito
Classic Chicken Burrito
Loco Grande Burrito
Spicy Hot Chicken Burrito
Flame-Broiled Chicken
Pinto Beans
Salsa
Spanish Rice

I haven't tried any of them but looking at the recipes, they're a piece of cake. Let me know which ones you want and I'll either post them here or send them to you in private.

For now, here's the

Flame-Broiled Chicken

Marinade
4 cups of water
2 TBSP salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp yellow food coloring

1/2 roasting chicken, cut into pieces

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add the chicken to the marinade, cover, and chill for 1 hr.
3. Preheat your barbecue or indoor grill to medium/high temperature. Cook the chicken on the grill. If the grill has a cover, leave it open. When the chicken has cooked for about 25 minutes, marinate the chicken once again for about 5 minutes. Place the chicken back on the grill and continue to cook for another 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Watch the chicken carefully so that it does not flare up and burn.
4. Before serving the chicken, remove the skin and serve with steamed flour or corn tortillas - lowfat or fat free if you prefer.

Nutrition facts (per serving):

Serving size - 2 pieces (4.5 ounces) Total servings 2

Calories 220, Original 270
Fat 8.5 g, Original 14.5 g

This is supposed to be the "low-fat" version...hope it helps and as mentioned earlier, if you need the other recipes, let me know... gluck.

LM

[CraigSca]

Craig,

I'm not familiar with El Pollo Loco, but I went to their website and found a page of recipes and a recipe book link. I figured you looked there already, but just in case here's the link:

http://www.elpolloloco.com/menu/recipebook.html
Thanks - yes, I did check it out. Unfortunately, it seems these are only recipes if you already have the chicken :(

[CraigSca]

Hey Craig,

I've got a book called Top Secret Recipes: Treasury II and it has TONS of restaurant favorites and I actually found a few El Pollo Loco recipes:

BRC Burrito
Classic Chicken Burrito
Loco Grande Burrito
Spicy Hot Chicken Burrito
Flame-Broiled Chicken
Pinto Beans
Salsa
Spanish Rice

I haven't tried any of them but looking at the recipes, they're a piece of cake. Let me know which ones you want and I'll either post them here or send them to you in private.

For now, here's the

Flame-Broiled Chicken

Marinade
4 cups of water
2 TBSP salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp yellow food coloring

1/2 roasting chicken, cut into pieces

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add the chicken to the marinade, cover, and chill for 1 hr.
3. Preheat your barbecue or indoor grill to medium/high temperature. Cook the chicken on the grill. If the grill has a cover, leave it open. When the chicken has cooked for about 25 minutes, marinate the chicken once again for about 5 minutes. Place the chicken back on the grill and continue to cook for another 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Watch the chicken carefully so that it does not flare up and burn.
4. Before serving the chicken, remove the skin and serve with steamed flour or corn tortillas - lowfat or fat free if you prefer.

Nutrition facts (per serving):

Serving size - 2 pieces (4.5 ounces) Total servings 2

Calories 220, Original 270
Fat 8.5 g, Original 14.5 g

This is supposed to be the "low-fat" version...hope it helps and as mentioned earlier, if you need the other recipes, let me know... gluck.

LM
Thanks, DC, I'll have to give this one a shot. The other one I tried seemed a little odd because there was no marinating in the recipe. When I had the real thing in California, the meat itself was full of flavor and just HAD to be marinated (basting just isn't go to cut it). Thanks for the recipe!

[CraigSca]

You know...this thread could easily turn into the single most-viewed thread in FOFC history. Sometimes all it takes is a little momentum...

[jbmagic]

Craigsca

Let us know how the chicken comes out.

[Glengoyne]

El Pollo Loco has long been a favorite haunt of mine. I've got them close at hand, so I've never pursued making the chicken or marinade myself. It is incredibly tasty chicken.

Good Luck.

[Lorena]

You're quite welcome! And please let us know how it turns out... I'm curious.

My favorite is the Chicken Tostada Salad.... YUMM!!!

[Lorena]

I was getting my grocery list ready and thought of this post for some reason. I'm going to attempt this recipe using chicken breast and cooking it on our George Foreman Grill sometime this weekend.

I was curious if anyone tried the recipe.

[biological warrior]

Bah! El Pollo Locco has nothing on Chicken Adobo!

[cartman]

I was getting my grocery list ready and thought of this post for some reason. I'm going to attempt this recipe using chicken breast and cooking it on our George Foreman Grill sometime this weekend.

I was curious if anyone tried the recipe.

We don't have any Crazy Chickens in Austin, but there are quite a few in San Antonio. So if the urge gets too bad after y'all move out here, it will be possible to satisfy the urge with a short drive. :)

[Icy]

Going offtopic, please Dodgerchick, post the recipe of the Spanish Rice, i'm pretty sure i'm going to have a laught at it.

[Glengoyne]

Icy,

In America Spanish Rice is essentially Rice with a tomato sauce component. Sometimes there are diced peppers mixed in.

[AZSpeechCoach]

And chicken adobo has nothing on pork adobo.

[AZSpeechCoach]

Dola...of course, now I have to scan the Entertainment book to see if there is a coupon for EPL, because I now have a taste for chicken.

[Icy]

Icy,

In America Spanish Rice is essentially Rice with a tomato sauce component. Sometimes there are diced peppers mixed in.Ahh ok, then as i thought it has nothing to do with the famous rice recipe from Spain (Paella named).

[Karlifornia]

Spanish Rice Recipe:

3 cups white rice
1 chopped Icy

Serve

[Lorena]

Going offtopic, please Dodgerchick, post the recipe of the Spanish Rice, i'm pretty sure i'm going to have a laught at it.

I'm sure this recipe doesn't compare to authentic Spanish Rice Icy, but for your enterainment here it is:

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup converted rice (not instant)
1 cup tomato sauce
1 1/2 TBSP finely minced onion
2 tsp finely minced green bell pepper
2 tsp finely minced red bell pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp oregano

1. Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over high heat.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the rice for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender.

Serves 4

Nutritional Facts (per serving)
Serving Size 3/4 cup

Calories 187, 155 Original
Fat 0 grams, 4 Original

[Icy]

Spanish Rice Recipe:

3 cups white rice
1 chopped Icy

ServeThen you will have to invite a lot of friends, i'm, 5'10'' and 220 pounds :)

Btw, found a good pick of the real Spanish rice (paella).

http://www.gospain.org/Spain_Images/cooking/06.jpg

[DanGarion]

Bah! El Pollo Locco has nothing on Chicken Adobo!
Charo Chicken (http://www.charochicken.com/) Pwn's all!

[QuikSand]

Btw, found a good pick of the real Spanish rice (paella).

http://www.gospain.org/Spain_Images/cooking/06.jpg

Dude, that must be some old paella... there's bugs and shit crawling all over your food.

[biological warrior]

And chicken adobo has nothing on pork adobo. That is soo true. I got a Hardcore Fillipino friend who cooks nothing but.

[Icy]

Dude, that must be some old paella... there's bugs and shit crawling all over your food.LOL you should taste it if you haven't yet. All the Americans that come to the Spanish beaches in summer eat it all the time, for lunch, dinner etc (that is a bit weird for us, we wouldn't ever eat paella as dinner as it's a heavy food).

[Desnudo]

I've had that before in Spanish restaurants. It is quite good.

[AZSpeechCoach]

That is soo true. I got a Hardcore Fillipino friend who cooks nothing but.

Mrs. SpeechCoach made some for a Christmas party my department was having. Now, the rest of the teachers want her to get her teaching certificate and join us so that she can cook for them more often.