Chilaquiles A La Lydia Child Recipes

CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil over medium heat in a cast-iron skillet until it registers 350 degrees F on a candy/frying thermometer. (If you don't have a thermometer, carefully dip the corner of a tortilla wedge into the oil. If it sizzles, you are ready to fry.)
• Carefully drop the tortilla quarters into the hot oil and fry, turning them halfway through with tongs or a spider, until crisp but not yet browned, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the tortilla quarters to a paper towel-lined plate to drain; set aside.
• Heat the enchilada sauce in a small pan over medium-high heat until hot. While it is heating, fry the eggs. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Crack the eggs into the skillet and fry until the edges are nice and crispy, a minute or two. Season with salt and pepper.
• While the eggs are frying, assembled your chilaquiles. In a shallow 1-quart dish, arrange half of the fried tortillas in a layer. Sprinkle them with half of the cheese. Pour enough of the hot enchilada sauce over the tortillas and cheese to cover most of the chips. Add the remaining chips to the dish in an even layer. Top with the remaining cheese and more sauce. The amount you add here is up to you. You may end up with some leftover enchilada sauce depending on your preference.
• Top with the fried eggs and salsa of your choice. Enjoy while it's nice and hot.

CHILAQUILES A LA LYDIA CHILD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. In a heavy low-sided casserole, heat the bacon fat and vegetable oil (or just bacon fat) over medium-high heat, until a speck of salt just sizzles if dropped in.
• Fry tortilla pieces in 2 batches until just lightly browned, removing to a plate.
• Lower heat to low, and add the garlic, onion, chopped pepper and salt. Cook about 3 minutes, until onion has started to become translucent.
• Add tomatoes. Cook 5 minutes, stirring often, for fresh tomatoes. If you're using canned, add a drizzle of water, and cook 8 minutes, until they have become lightly stewy. Add pickled chiles. Add fried tortillas, and stir. Add a drizzle of water now, to keep them from sticking. Lower heat, and partly cover the pot for about 20 minutes, opening to stir every few minutes.
• When the stew has been cooking about 15 minutes, remove a tortilla, and taste a sliver. Cook until the tortillas are completely tender. Make 4 little wells in the stew.
• Crack eggs, one by one, into a teacup or ramekin, then tip each into a well. Salt yolks and white lightly.
• Put egg-topped stew into oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until whites are set and yolks still very slightly runny.
• Remove, top with fresh herbs and serve in a casserole or pot, with wedges of lime for each person to squeeze. Serve cheese alongside, if you want.

TRADITIONAL CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Blend tomatillos, onion, poblano pepper, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, garlic, mint, and salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer mixture to a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add chicken to tomatillo sauce and continue to simmer until chicken is heated through, about 5 minutes more.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry tortilla strips in batches until crisp and lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Layer about half the fried tortillas in a 2-quart baking dish; spread half the tomatillo sauce over tortillas. Mix pepperjack cheese and Monterey Jack cheese in a bowl; sprinkle half over tomatillo sauce. Repeat layers.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is golden and bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.

CHILAQUILES II

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Carefully stir in the onion and tortilla strips. Fry until tortilla strips are crisp and golden brown. Remove from heat, and drain on paper towels. Drain the skillet, leaving only a thin residue of oil.
• Over medium heat, return tortillas to the skillet, and stir in the eggs. Season with salt. Cook and stir until eggs are firm.
• Mix Mexican style hot tomato sauce and water into the skillet. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Top with cheese. Continue cooking until cheese has melted.

SUPER EASY CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and pan-fry tortilla triangles until they are just starting to turn golden brown and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Add salsa, reduce heat to medium-low, and carefully mix tortillas and salsa with a spatula. Cook for 5 minutes.
• Beat eggs, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Add eggs to tortillas and increase heat to medium-high. Scramble eggs gently until just set. Top with pepper Jack cheese, cover, and turn off the heat. Let sit for 3 minutes until cheese is melted.

QUICK BLACK BEAN CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add chopped onion and cook until it softens slightly, about 5 minutes. Add tortilla chips. Add eggs to the pan and stir around with the chips until almost set, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in black beans and salsa. Stir to combine and heat through, about 5 minutes.
• Top chilaquiles with queso fresco, red onion, avocado, and cilantro. Serve immediately.

CHILAQUILES A LA LYDIA CHILD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. In a heavy low-sided casserole, heat the bacon fat and vegetable oil (or just bacon fat) over medium-high heat, until a speck of salt just sizzles if dropped in.
• Fry tortilla pieces in 2 batches until just lightly browned, removing to a plate.
• Lower heat to low, and add the garlic, onion, chopped pepper and salt. Cook about 3 minutes, until onion has started to become translucent.
• Add tomatoes. Cook 5 minutes, stirring often, for fresh tomatoes. If you're using canned, add a drizzle of water, and cook 8 minutes, until they have become lightly stewy. Add pickled chiles. Add fried tortillas, and stir. Add a drizzle of water now, to keep them from sticking. Lower heat, and partly cover the pot for about 20 minutes, opening to stir every few minutes.
• When the stew has been cooking about 15 minutes, remove a tortilla, and taste a sliver. Cook until the tortillas are completely tender. Make 4 little wells in the stew.
• Crack eggs, one by one, into a teacup or ramekin, then tip each into a well. Salt yolks and white lightly.
• Put egg-topped stew into oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until whites are set and yolks still very slightly runny.
• Remove, top with fresh herbs and serve in a casserole or pot, with wedges of lime for each person to squeeze. Serve cheese alongside, if you want.