How To Make Enchilada For Mexican Food Lovers

For this delicious enchilada recipe, here are the required things:

Tortillas:

Around 8 corn or flour tortillas are needed for this delicious recipe. It is okay to use store-bought corn tortillas. If desired, homemade corn tortillas or flour tortillas can also be used.

Enchilada Sauce:

To make this dish you'll want about 2 cups of enchilada sauce. Flavor-wise, it's highly suggested you make your enchilada sauce.

There are two appetizing versions-a quick Tex-Mex with chili powder, tomato paste, and broth; or an authentic one made from whole dried chiles and Mexican chocolate. Both are easy to make and may be prepared in large batches for later use.

Shredded Chicken:

Any leftover shredded chicken will do. If you have no pre-cooked chicken, it is quite simple to make at home. You can shred a store-procured rotisserie chicken. You will need around 1 ½ cups of cooked shredded chicken.

Shredded Cheese:

Take about 2 ½ cups shredded cheese. The classic "Mexican-style" pre-shredded cheese found in most supermarkets works wonderfully.

Similarly, cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack cheese will do fine. If you want to do something very traditionally Mexican, Oaxaca, Chihuahua, or Asadero will be great as well.

It is easy to prepare healthy and delicious enchiladas in your kitchen if you simply follow these basic steps. Enchiladas are an authentic Mexican dish that you can tailor according to your personal taste or dietary needs.

With only a few basic ingredients, you will be making a flavor-filled dish in your kitchen.

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Prepare the dishes by preheating your oven to 350°F. By doing so the enchiladas will cook evenly and the cheese will melt perfectly.

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken Stuffing

Take a large bowl, combine the shredded cooked chicken, 1/4 cup enchilada sauce, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Mix all the ingredients well with the help of a fork or your hands. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.

Step 3: Warm Tortillas

Line up your tortillas and get ready for filling.

To warm corn tortillas: Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel, and microwave for one minute, flip halfway, and remove from microwave after they're warmed and pliable making them easy to roll.

To warm flour tortillas: Place the tortillas on a plate, and microwave for one minute or until warmed, flipping halfway being sure not to burn the tortillas.

Step 4: Assemble Enchiladas

Lay one tortilla flap pointed away and place 1 cup of seasoned shredded chicken in the middle.

Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over the chicken and carefully roll the tortilla tightly around the chicken and cheese, placing the seam side down into a large baking dish. Repeat this with the rest of the tortillas.

Step 5: Combine the Enchilada Sauce

When all enchiladas have been rolled up into the cookware, pour the last of the enchilada sauce, 1 3/4 cup evenly over the top of the rolled enchiladas.

Step-6: Add Cheese

Sprinkle the tattered cheese, 1 1/2 cup on top of the enchiladas after they have been covered in sauce. This cheese will get melted and bubbly in the oven.

Step 7: Bake the Enchiladas

Place it in a preheated oven at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until the top cheese is melted and a little brownish.

Step 8: Savor and enjoy

Fresh from the oven, serve with garnishes on top and your choice of toppings: diced onions, chopped cilantro, sour cream, or guacamole.

Cooking scrumptious chicken enchiladas is simple when you know what temperature setting to apply. You will want to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for the best outcome.

At this temperature setting, your chicken enchiladas should take about 20 minutes to get cooked properly. You will know the enchiladas are done when they are hot and the cheese on top is melted to gooey perfection.

Since most of your key ingredients are prepared beforehand, like the cooked chicken and tortillas, the baking time being on the somewhat short side simply means the oven needs to work its magic to warm everything through and melt that cheese topping.

It will take around 18-20 minutes, so keep an eye on it, as you might not want the enchiladas to burn. With just the right oven temperature at just the right moment in time, with a quick bake, you have tender, flavorful chicken enchiladas surely satisfying at any time of day.

It is the sauce that makes enchilada taste better. While you are free to use store-bought enchilada sauce, making your own from scratch provides a level of flavor and authenticity well worth the minimal additional effort.

Making enchilada sauce is quite simple, and you get to add only the ingredients you love, besides adjusting the spiciness at will. Here goes a way of preparing homemade enchilada sauce that perfectly complements rolled tortillas.

Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe

In a small skillet, cook the flour and oil together until the roux forms. Whisk the spices-chili powder, cumin, and oregano into the roux until they are fragrant, briefly toasting in the saucepan.

Next, whisk in either chicken or vegetable stock in three parts, stirring constantly. This will help dissolve any lumps and give the sauce a nice, even consistency. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to your liking.

Be sure to keep the bubble low when simmering. Once that sauce thickens up, add salt to taste. You can also add any other seasonings of your choice such as garlic powder, more cumin, or dried oregano.

Green Enchilada Sauce Recipe

To prepare green enchilada sauce, pan-fry an onion, a few cloves of minced garlic, and a jalapeño in olive oil until they are soft and cooked. Once the onion mixture is ready, transfer it into the blender or food processor.

Add the remaining ingredients to the recipe: stock, green chiles, lime juice, and spices. Blend until smooth or process until nice and smooth.

Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings to taste: add more salt, pepper, or cumin if you want to get the flavor just right.

To store leftover enchiladas, the deal is: to place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them. The enchiladas should remain fresh for 4 days. Whenever you feel like having them, just reheat your enchiladas in the oven or microwave.

You can also freeze them for longer-term storage. Let the enchiladas cool down completely in the fridge. Next, put the enchiladas into a container that freezes safely or into a freezer bag.

Alternatively, freeze enchiladas first by tightly wrapping them with aluminum foil. This will keep them from freezer burn. Frozen enchiladas are good for several months in the freezer. When you are ready, just thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven.

Enchiladas pair well with many delicious, lively, Mexican side dishes. Here are some suggestions:

Grilled Corn Salad

To make a fresh grilled corn salad, grill fresh corn on the cob until slightly charred, then cool down, core the corn, and mix the corn with chopped tomatoes, onions, vinegar, and salt and pepper. The smoky grilled corn contrasts with the fresh chopped vegetables and tangy vinegar dressing.

Green Rice with Green Chiles

Use chicken broth instead of water to cook the rice for this zesty green rice with green chiles recipe. Once the rice is fully cooked, add in chopped green chiles and fresh cilantro. This fresh addition to rice not only elevates the taste but also provides a nice kick with great flavor.

Mexican Style Cornbread

For cornbread as a side, try a Mexican-style cornbread. Bake cornbread with warm spices like cumin and chili powder. The mild heat of both spices complements the sweet crumbly cornbread.

Guacamole

Mexican meals are incomplete without guacamole. Simply mash avocados with lime juice, chopped onion, tomato, cilantro, and a sprinkle of salt. This fresh cool element is a new vein when pairing with enchiladas; creamy delicious contrast.

Garlic Vegetable Saute 

Another great side that is packed with veggies is a garlic vegetable sauté. Sputter zucchini, bell peppers, and onions in olive oil with fragrant sliced minced garlic that is tender-crisp. Garlicky peas or other vegetables are a beautifully delicious side.