Guide to making Salvadoran Panes con Pollo

If you've ever had a Salvadoran Pan con Pollo (stuffed chicken sandwiches) you know how delicious and addicting these things can be. I have had them on special holidays over the years and I always wondered how do you make those things! Well, I did some research and also had the help of my fiance's tia (aunt) and figured out a recipe that I enjoy very much. I think everyone has their own little version so I'll give you mine.

What you need: (the list of ingredients looks long, but it's really an easy thing to put together)

For the chicken:

• Chicken pieces (I use boneless skinless thighs because they have more flavor and easier to work with than bones) 
• Olive oil 
• Worcestershire Sauce (salsa inglesa)
• Yellow Mustard 
• 1 large jar tomato sauce/pasta sauce
• Goya chicken seasoning (cubito en polvo)
• Achiote powder (also called annatto) 
• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Salt 
• Pepper
• Goya Adobo Seasoning
• Dried oregano leaves 

For assembling the sandwich: 

• watercress 
• cabbage
• mayo + mustard
• sliced tomatoes
• sliced cucumbers
• sliced hardboiled eggs
• sliced beets
• sliced red onion and carrots (let them soak in a little white vinegar for at least 1 hour) 
• small pan frances (french bread loaves)

Instructions: 

1. Get a skillet hot and drizzle some olive oil in the bottom.
2. Cover your chicken thighs in a couple teaspoons of yellow mustard and a few shakes of worcestershire sauce and place them carefully in the hot oil. Let them cook until browned on both sides. 
3. Pour jar of tomato sauce over chicken and add spices and chicken seasoning. Cover and simmer on medium-low for at least 30 minutes, or until chicken can be easily shredded with a fork. 
4. Remove chicken from skillet and shred with 2 forks, save the sauce! 
5. Mix enough mayo and mustard, until you have a pale yellow sauce. Add the cabbage to that mixture. 
6. Slice open your french bread and add in the shredded chicken, scoop on a little of the tomato sauce, put some cabbage mixture into the sandwich, and stuff with the tomato, cucumber, sliced egg, beet, watercress, and the red onions and carrots. 
7. Dig in! 

I hope if you decide to try these you will enjoy! You can experiment with different amounts of seasonings and flavors and let me know how they turn out! Buen provecho!