A: Welcome to this week’s “Food delight” with a range of recipes helping you diversify your menu. We are A and B, and we are very happy to be here to be able share some recipes with you. 

B: Hello, you guys. Hello, A. Hey, A. We’re gonna have a family party this weekend, but we’ve already run out of ideas for things to cook. Could you give us a clue?
A: Uhm. Let’s see. I think you should try a dish that is simple but gets everyone involved. For example “Mexican Fajita”, a dish with grilled or fried meat that can be served as a taco on a flour or a corn tortilla. The children can help you grill the meat or experience wrapping the Fajitas themselves. You know, sharing the cooking experience with your family can be a fun way to create lasting bonds and memories.
B: That sounds good. My father and I used to spend hours in the kitchen trying out our crazy ideas of sudden-come-to-mind recipes. The memories created while preparing a meal were cherished and still remembered till this day. I will definitely try it. But where did you get that idea of cooking Fajita?
A: I got the recipe from one of my friends, Abby Chitty from the UK. She said Fajitas would have to be one of the easiest recipes as people usually opt to buy a seasoning packet from the supermarket. But why buy it when you can make it yourself with just a handful of ingredients, and maybe some extra minutes added to your preparation time?

“Mexican Fajita”, a dish with grilled or fried meat that can be served as a taco on a flour or a corn tortilla (Photo: budgetbytes.com)

B: So excited to know the recipe. But I’m not familiar with Mexican ingredients. I’m not sure whether I can make it or whether I would ruin the recipe. 

A: Come on. To me, a real cook is one who adds not only ingredients to their dishes but soul and heart. All the unfamiliar ingredients like paprika, cumin, sour cream, and tortilla wraps are now available in Vietnam and can be found at your local supermarket. So don’t hesitate to give it a try as Abby was successful in cooking the dish. “Fajitas aren’t technically English but actually Mexican. What you do is simply cut onion into strips. Normally it depends on how many people. I use 4 piece of chicken for 4 people. And then you put the chicken with the pepper in a bowl, and then you get some paprika, cumin, and then you add half a lime and squeeze it in. Next you mix them up together with oil. You need lots of oil. And then you leave it for about 20 minutes to marinate.”  

Fajitas would have to be one of the easiest recipes as people usually opt to buy a seasoning packet from the supermarket (Photo: mccormick.com)

A: The chicken should be marinated for at least 20 minutes, so when it's grilled or fried the chicken becomes very tender and full of flavor. The chicken will also be juicier since marinating it adds moisture to the meat.  

B: However, remember not to marinate the chicken for too long as the meat will turn mushy. The marinated chicken is then fried or grilled over a high heat. Abby said: “And then you fry them all up with onion. You can put chili on it. Normally you just put chili powder if you want some extra kick. Really it’s up to you. And then you cook them on a really high temperature- that’s the key because that way the flavor comes out more. And you have to keep an eye on it all the time, and keep stirring it through so that everything gets cooked really nicely.”
A: You can put chili or chili powder on the meat. But be aware of too spicy food for children. When the chicken is finished, it’s a fun time for the whole family to get involved, which is wrapping the Fajitas. Abby elaborates: “And then you have to prepare it. So what we do is we buy tortilla wraps from the supermarkets. And my favorite is to have it with sour cream and I just put the mixture inside the wrap and wrap it up. So I highly recommended it as it’s my favorite and it’s really good food for sharing. So if you have people round for dinner and you wanna do something kind of fun and different, you can make Fajitas. And then you can maybe have some theme drinks like margarita or martini, or whatever you want with them to make it a more Mexican-themed night.” 
B: That was Abby’s homemade recipe for Mexican Fajitas. How about you? If you have any homemade recipies that you want to share with us, just head to the kitchen, cook something and take a photo of your results and email us at englishsection@vov.org.vn. or tag us on Facebook at VOV5 English Section. You can record your recipe and attach it to the email to get a chance to be our next special guest at VOV 24/7’s Food Delight. 
A: Your comments and ideas about the recipes are very welcomed and highly appreciated. Visit vovworld.vn/ Food-delight, where several recipes are already waiting. Join us next week for more tips on diversifying your menu. And now it’s time to say good-bye.