Chilaquiles Recipes

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

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

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Gather your ingredients.
• Preheat a stainless 3-quart pot over high heat and a large cast-iron skillet, 10 to 12 inches, over medium-low heat; this will be your serving platter.
• Remove the stems and seeds of your dried chilies and toast in the pot, 2 minutes. Remove, then add oil, onions and jalapeno pepper. Soften onions, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stack and cut the corn tortillas into 8 pieces, halved across, and then cut into 4 equal wide slices. Arrange on parchment lined baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Bake to deeply golden and fragrant, 10 minutes.
• To onions, add pimenton, oregano and garlic. Stir and add water. Let it absorb, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chilies back to pot with chicken or vegetable stock, tomatoes, honey and cocoa powder if using. Simmer 7 to 8 minutes to plump the peppers. Puree in high powered blender or food processor, and then transfer to large cast-iron skillet. Reserve any extra in an airtight container for enchiladas or more chilaquiles.
• Chop red onion, cilantro and thinly slice radishes with truffle shaver, sharp knife or mandoline. Crumble the cotija or queso fresco. Shred the Pepper Jack cheese.
• Add tortillas to sauce in cast-iron skillet and toss to coat. Top with cheeses and place back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
• Place 2 small nonstick skillets over medium heat (have some lids or foil on hand). Add a pat of butter to each pan, then crack an egg into each pan and cover. Cook until whites are solid and yolks still soft. Remove to a plate and repeat.
• Remove skillet from the oven and top with red onions, cilantro, radishes, pickled peppers and eggs.
• Serve the chilaquiles from the pan.

CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Stack tortillas and cut stack into 8 triangles.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then fry tortillas in 6 batches, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per batch. Drain on layers of paper towel.
• Purée salsa with 1/2 cup cilantro in a blender.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons oil from skillet, then cook garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Add salsa mixture and cook, stirring, until sauce comes to a simmer, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk together sour cream, heavy cream, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Spread tortillas on a platter, then spoon sauce over them. Drizzle with sour-cream mixture, then sprinkle with onion, cheese, and remaining 1/2 cup cilantro.

SHEET-PAN CHICKEN CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Place a rack 6 inches from the broiler heat source and heat to high. On a sheet pan, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic and jalapeño, and broil until lightly charred in spots, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes for the garlic and 15 to 20 minutes for the tomatoes, onion and jalapeño. (They should be lightly charred around the edges, but not all over). Transfer to a blender.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine the broth and dried chiles, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let stand while the tomatoes and vegetables broil.
• To the blender add the rehydrated chiles with broth, oil, salt and coriander, and purée until smooth.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. On the same sheet pan (no need to wash), toss chips with 2 cups of the sauce and spread in an even layer. Toss the chicken with the remaining sauce and arrange on top of the chips. Roast until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with preferred toppings, and serve warm.