Chilaquiles Verdes Recipe Using Tostadas

EASY CHILAQUILES VERDES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place corn tortilla pieces on the prepared baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crispy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Combine tortillas and tomatillo sauce in a skillet over medium heat and simmer until tortillas have softened, about 5 minutes. Spoon mixture into individual ramekins. Top with queso fresco, crema, and sliced onions. Garnish with cilantro.

CHICKEN CHILAQUILES WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the tomatillos, onion, jalapeno and garlic on a baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons oil over the vegetables and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and roast until the vegetables soften and start to brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a blender, add the broth and puree. Season with salt.
• Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add the tortilla pieces in batches and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 1 1/2 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• Carefully pour out the oil from the pan and return the pan to medium heat. Add about 1 1/2 cups of the tomatillo puree (you will have some leftover) and cook until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Add the tortillas and gently stir until they are coated. Divide the mixture among 4 shallow bowls and top with queso fresco and cilantro and a dollop of sour cream if using.

CHILAQUILES VERDES

Steps:

• To make the salsa verde: Put the tomatillos, chile, onion, and garlic in a medium pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are soft and the tomatillos turn pale green, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Carefully transfer the boiled vegetables, along with the cooking water, to a blender. Puree for a few seconds to blend; be sure to hold down the lid with a kitchen towel for safety. Add the 1/2 bay leaf, oregano, thyme, salt, and broth. Continue to puree until smooth. You should have about 1 quart of salsa verde.
• Place a wide pot or pan over medium-high heat and coat with the corn oil. When the oil is hazy, pour in the salsa verde; it will bubble a bit. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to very low, and keep warm while you finish the chips.
• Pour the vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pot or countertop deep fryer to a depth of about 2 inches and heat to 375°F over medium-high heat. Stack the tortillas and fan them with your thumb to separate. Cut the tortillas into 8 wedges like a pie.
• Working in batches, fry the tortilla chips, turning them with a skimmer or slotted spoon so they don't stick together, until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the chips to a paper towel-lined baking pan or brown paper bag to drain and cool. (Let the oil return to the proper temperature between batches.)
• To finish the chilaquiles, uncover the salsa verde and raise the heat to medium. Just when it starts to bubble, stir in the beaten eggs. Cook and stir for about 5 seconds, until the egg feathers into the sauce, thickening and binding it. Immediately add the chips, tossing gently until they have absorbed enough sauce to become soft. Take care not to break the chips. Sprinkle the Jack cheese on top and let it melt.
• Divide the chilaquiles among 4 plates. Sprinkle with the queso fresco, chopped onion, and cilantro. Garnish with the crema fresca and serve immediately.

VERDE CHILAQUILES WITH EGGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeno; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a very large bowl. Add salsa, chicken, chips, olives, and cilantro. Toss to coat, breaking chips slightly. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Use the bottom of a custard or measuring cup to make 8 indentations in the chip mixture. Crack 1 egg into each indentation. Sprinkle eggs evenly with salt and black pepper.
• Bake until eggs are set and tortilla chips are softened and browned at edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with cotija cheese, radishes, and avocado.

SHORTCUT CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Place half the onions in a small bowl and cover with lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, toss and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet (12-inch works well) over medium-high heat. Add remaining onions and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until they are tender and starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and half of chile (if using) and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have started to burst and simmer in their own juices, 5 to 8 minutes. Add 1 cup of water and continue to simmer until tomatoes are totally softened and melted down, another 5 to 8 minutes; larger bits of the skin are O.K., but they should feel mostly broken down into a nice, thick sauce.
• Add chips and toss to coat evenly. Simmer a minute or two and remove the pan from the heat while you fry the eggs.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in another large skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggs and season with salt and pepper. Cook, undisturbed, until the whites of the egg are fried and lightly crisped but the yolks are still bright orange and runny, about 2 minutes.
• Divide chips among plates and top with fried egg, queso fresco, cilantro, crema, remaining green chile, reserved red onions and a squeeze of lime if you like.