How to Make Enchiladas Verdes: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you are looking for a scrumptious yet easy recipe to impress friends and family, then look no further than enchiladas verdes! This quintessential Mexican dish is a perfect balance of tangy tomatillos, smoky roasted chilies, tender chicken, and melted cheese all wrapped up in a soft tortilla. Making enchiladas verdes at home may seem daunting, but fear not as this mouth-watering recipe is quick and effortless!

The first step to creating a fantastic enchilada is sourcing fresh ingredients. Start by picking up some tomatillos, green chilies, and cilantro from your local market. Next up, cook the chicken breasts until they are tender and shred them into thin pieces. After that, blend together the tomatillos, green chilies, cilantro, and garlic to make the perfect sauce for these enchiladas. Finally, assemble the enchiladas by filling each tortilla with chicken, adding cheese on top and pouring the sauce over them before popping them in the oven. Trust us; you’ll be amazed at how delicious and simple this recipe is!

Section: How to Make Enchiladas Verdes

Gather the ingredients

The first step in making delicious enchiladas verdes is to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here’s a list of what you will need:

– 10-12 corn tortillas
– 1 pound cooked and shredded chicken breast
– 2 cups salsa verde
– 1 cup shredded cheese (Mexican blend or cheddar)
– 1/2 cup sour cream
– 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
– 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
– Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the salsa verde

Salsa verde is a key ingredient in making enchiladas verdes. To make the salsa, you will need:

– 10 tomatillos, husked and rinsed
– 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
– 1/4 cup chopped onion
– 1 clove garlic, chopped
– 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
– Juice of one lime
– Salt and pepper to taste

Blanch the tomatillos in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and place in a blender with the jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Prepare the chicken

To prepare the chicken, you can either cook it in a slow cooker or on the stove. If cooking on the stove, season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil until fully cooked. Once cooked, shred the chicken and set aside.

Prepare the tortillas

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. While the skillet is heating, begin warming the tortillas in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Once the skillet is hot, place a tortilla on the skillet and cook for 10-15 seconds on each side until the tortilla is pliable. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Assemble the enchiladas

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of salsa verde on the bottom of the dish. Take a warm tortilla and spread a spoonful of the salsa verde on the tortilla. Add some shredded chicken and a sprinkle of cheese. Roll up the enchilada and place it seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas until the dish is full.

Add the cheese and bake

Top the enchiladas with more salsa verde and shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Finish with toppings

Take the enchiladas out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Add a dollop of sour cream on top of each enchilada and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Alternative filling options

While chicken is a classic filling for enchiladas verdes, there are plenty of alternative options that you can try. Some delicious options include:

– Shrimp
– Ground beef or pork
– Roasted vegetables
– Black beans
– Sweet potato

Tips for making the perfect enchiladas verdes

– Warm the tortillas before rolling to prevent them from cracking.
– Don’t overfill the tortillas, or they may burst open during baking.
– Use a non-stick skillet to warm the tortillas, or they may stick and tear.
– Don’t skip on the toppings. The sour cream and cilantro add a nice touch to the dish.
– If you like your enchiladas spicy, add extra jalapeno peppers to the salsa verde or sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top of the cheese before baking.

Final thoughts

Enchiladas verdes are a delicious and easy meal that the whole family will enjoy. With a little preparation and some fresh ingredients, you can make this classic Mexican dish in your own kitchen. So go ahead and give it a try!

Ingredients

Now that you know a little bit of the history behind enchiladas verdes, let’s focus on the most important part: the ingredients. Like any recipe, the right ingredients can make or break the dish, so choosing the best quality ingredients is essential.

1. Chicken – The traditional protein used in enchiladas verdes is chicken, so make sure you find the highest quality chicken available. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts are ideal as they add moisture and flavor to the dish.

2. Tomatillos – The star ingredient in the verde sauce is tomatillos. These green fruits are similar to tomatoes but have a tart, citrusy flavor that pairs perfectly with spicy chili peppers.

3. Green Chilies – To add some heat and depth of flavor to the sauce, make sure to use a variety of green chili peppers. Jalapeños, serranos, and poblanos are all good options.

4. Garlic – A key ingredient in almost all Mexican dishes, garlic adds a pungent yet sweet flavor to the dish.

5. Onion – Along with garlic, onion is another essential ingredient in Mexican cuisine. It adds sweetness and texture to the dish.

6. Cilantro – This herb adds a fresh, citrusy flavor and bright green color to the dish. It’s important to use fresh cilantro to get the best flavor.

7. Lime – A squeeze of fresh lime juice at the end of cooking adds a bright acidity that balances out the richness of the cheese and sauce.

8. Corn tortillas – Corn tortillas are classic in enchiladas verdes, but you can also use flour tortillas if you prefer.

9. Queso fresco – Queso fresco is a crumbly Mexican cheese that’s perfect for topping enchiladas. It has a mild, slightly salty flavor that pairs well with the spicy verde sauce.

10. Avocado – Although not a traditional ingredient, chopped avocado adds a cool, creamy contrast to the spicy sauce.

Now that you have your ingredients ready, it’s time to start cooking!

Ingredients

Before diving into the recipe, let us first talk about the essential ingredients that you need to make enchiladas verdes. These ingredients are readily available in supermarkets and local stores. Here are the ingredients you need:

Preparing the Enchiladas Verdes Sauce

The key to making delicious enchiladas verdes lies in the sauce, which is made of tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, garlic, onion, cilantro, salt, and sugar. Preparing the sauce is simple and easy. Follow these steps:

• Peel and rinse the tomatillos to remove the sticky residue.
• Roast the tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, and garlic in a pan until they are soft and slightly charred.
• Saute the onion until it becomes translucent.
• Put the roasted vegetables, onion, cilantro, salt, and sugar in a blender and puree until smooth.
• Heat the olive oil in a pan and pour in the sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Set aside the sauce and start preparing the chicken filling.

Preparing the Chicken Filling

The chicken filling is what gives the enchiladas verdes its hearty and meaty taste. Here’s what you need to do:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
• Heat up the corn tortillas in a pan to make them softer and pliable.
• Place the shredded chicken onto each tortilla and roll them up tightly, placing them seam side down in a baking dish.
• Pour the enchiladas verdes sauce over the rolled-up tortillas until they are completely covered.
• Sprinkle shredded Monterey jack cheese on top of the sauce and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake the enchiladas for 25 minutes in the preheated oven.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Serving and Garnishing

Once the enchiladas verdes are out of the oven, they are ready to serve hot! You can also garnish them with sour cream, some extra cilantro, and slices of lime.

Enchiladas verdes are best enjoyed with a refreshing glass of horchata or a cold Mexican beer. Bon appetit!

Thanks for diving into the world of cooking with me!

I hope you had fun learning how to make enchiladas verdes. It’s always a pleasure to share my passion for food with you. Cooking is about more than just following a recipe – it’s about using your creativity to make something delicious. Don’t be afraid to experiment! And remember, this is just the beginning of the journey. Keep learning new recipes and techniques, and I guarantee you’ll be whipping up amazing meals in no time. Thank you for taking the time to read my article, and I can’t wait to see you back here again soon! ¡Hasta luego!