Entrees » Chicken Enchiladas w/ Tomatillo Salsa (Enchiladas Verde)
Ingredients
Tomatillo Salsa (makes 2 cups)
- 12 tomatillos, husked
- 1½ cups water
- 1 cup reserved liquid from cooked tomatillos
- 4 chopped serrano peppers, stems removed
- ½ medium white onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 4-5 cilantro sprigs
- 2 tbsp safflower oil
- pinch of salt or to taste (optional)
- pinch of sugar or to taste (optional)
Chicken Filling (makes 3 cups & fills 12 enchiladas)
- 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- ¼ cup chopped white onion
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 medium tomatoes, roasted & chopped (Roma tomatoes used in this recipe)
- 3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp adobo sauce (from the chipotle chile can)
- ⅓ cup reserved liquid from cooked chicken
- pinch of salt or to taste
- pinch of pepper or to taste
For Assembly
- 6 tbsp vegetable oil
- 12 corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Muenster or Monterey Jack cheese
Garnish (optional)
- Salvadoran crema (or sour cream)
- chopped fresh parsley
- crumbled panela or Monterrey Jack cheese
Equipment
- blender
- small skillet
- tongs
How-to
Make Salsa
- Cover tomatillos with water in a medium saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until soft and faded, 8-10 minutes
- Transfer tomatillos and 1 cup of the cooking liquid to a blender. Add onion, garlic, serrano peppers and cilantro and purée to a smooth consistency
- Heat oil in a skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Carefully add purée to the pot (mixture will sizzle and splatter!) and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring continuously
- Adjust seasonings with salt and/or sugar if necessary. Keep warm while preparing filling or reheat when ready to assemble the enchiladas
Prepare Filing
- Bring a pot of water to a boil
- Add chicken and boil for 15-20 minutes over high heat
- Remove chicken, reserve ⅓ cup of the cooking liquid, and set chicken aside until cool enough to handle, then shred the meat and set aside
- Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring constantly until onions are wilted and transparent, about 1-2 minutes
- Add tomatoes, chiles and adobo sauce. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until all moisture has been absorbed and the mixture is dry, about 2-3 minutes
- Stir in shredded chicken and the reserved cooking liquid. Cook another 3-4 minutes, until chicken is heated through
- Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep hot or reheat to assemble the enchiladas
Note: The chicken filling can also be used for tacos, quesadillas or tostadas
Build, Bake & Garnish
- Preheat oven to 350º
- In a small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. (Make sure the oil is hot enough, or the tortillas will absorb too much oil and be greasy)
- Using tongs, dip each tortilla into the hot oil for about 10-15 seconds, or until softened. Drain on paper towels
- Lay each tortilla flat and put 3-4 tbsp of hot filling down the center of the tortilla and roll it into a tube
- Serve 3 enchiladas (per serving) on an oven-safe plate (or place all 12 in a casserole) and cover with the salsa
- Bake 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with crumbled cheese, sour cream and chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately (or the enchiladas will get soggy)
Jeff Martinez
We always find the journey of a chef fascinating and this holds true for Jeff Martinez. At 17, away from home for the first time, he had to find a way to pay the rent. So washing dishes in a restaurant started it all. From there he graduated to prep work, sauté stations, and then things got really interesting. After seasonal stints at a salmon fishing lodge in Alaska and personal chef in Portland, Maine, he returned to his roots, paying tribute to his grandmother's memorable Mexican cooking. Jeff can be found recreating her dishes and many more authenic regional favorites as Chef de Cuisine at Fonda San Miguel restaurant in Austin, Texas.
Fonda San Miguel
Jeff Martinez of Fonda San Miguel in Austin, Texas, shares a great recipe for enchiladas. Tortillas glazed in a small amount of hot oil, get dipped in sauce, filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables, rolled and swathed in more sauce. A staple of the Mexican diet, enchiladas vary from house-to-house and even cook-to-cook. They're not difficult to make, but preparing the components takes awhile. For the best result, make fillings and sauces ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve.
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