Costaricanchilaquilestortillameat Recipes

SIMPLE CHIPOTLE CHILAQUILES (TORTILLA "CASSEROLE")

Steps:

• Make the chips or measure out the store bought chips. For the sauce. If using drained canned tomatoes, place them in a blender jar. If using fresh tomatoes, spread the onto a baking sheet and place them 4 inches below a very hot broiler. When they are darkly roasted (they'll be blackened in spots), about 6 minutes, flip them over and roast the other side-5 to 6 minutes more will give you splotchy-black and blistered tomatoes that are soft and cooked through. Cool. Working over your baking sheet, pull off and discard the blackened skins, and for round tomatoes, cut out the hard cores where the stems were attached. Transfer to a blender, along with all the juices on the baking sheet. If using canned chipotles, add them to the blender, seeds and all, If using dried chipotles, toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes, turning frequently until very aromatic. Place in a small bowl, cover with hot tap water and let rehydrate 30 minutes. Drain and add to the blender. Blend the tomatoes and chiles to a puree, but one that still retains a little texture. You should have 2 1/4 cups puree. Over medium heat, set a medium-large wide pot (like a 4-quart Dutch oven of Mexican cazuela) or a deep, large (12-inch) saute pan-you'll need a lid for whatever vessel you choose. Measure the oil, add half of the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until richly golden, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another minute, then raise the heat to medium-high. Add the tomato puree and stir nearly constantly for 4 to 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens somewhat. Stir in the broth or water and season with salt. The sauce needs to be seasoned highly with salt, but watch out if your chips or broth is already salted. Cover the pot if not continuing with step 2 right away. You should have 4 1/2 cups broth mixture. To cook and serve the chilaquiles. Set out the crema, chicken and cheese. Put the pot over medium high heat until the broth mixture boils. Stir in the epazote (if you're using cilantro, set it aside to add later) and the tortilla chips, coating all the chips well. Let return to a rolling boil, cover tightly and turn off the heat. Let stand 5 minutes (no longer). Immediately uncover and very carefully stir to coat the chips evenly with the sauce and to check that the chips have softened nicely-they should be a little chewy, not mushy. (If they are too chewy, stir in a little more broth, cover and set over medium heat for 3 or 4 more minutes). Sprinkle with the cilantro, if that is the herb you're using. Either spoon onto warm individual plates in the kitchen or serve directly from the vessel it was made in. Whichever you choose, drizzle the chilaquiles with the crema (or one of its stand-ins), strew with the remaining sliced onion and the optional shredded chicken, and dust generously with the finely crumbled cheese.;

CHILAQUILES ROJOS (TRADITIONAL MEXICAN BREAKFAST DISH)

Steps:

• Grill the tomatoes, chiles, garlic and onions until they have a slightly blackened skin. Do not burn!
• Bring 6 cups water to a boil with the blackened veggies until they are cooked through and soft inside.
• Pour the veggies with the hot water and a little added cold water into a food processor and process. Don't blend too much, you want the mixture to be chunky.
• In a large pot, heat up the oil until smoking. Then (carefully!) add a small amount of the sauce mixture and let it burn away for 1 minute (this is for a nice smoky flavor). Then slowly add the rest of the mixture and season with salt and some chicken base.
• Add the tomato puree for color, and mix well. Add the shredded chicken and cook until it is heated through. Add the cilantro. Add the chips and serve immediately on 4 plates. Top each plate with some sour cream, sliced onions, queso fresco and a sprig of cilantro.
• Serve with guacamole, refried black beans and pico de gallo on the side.

GUATEMALAN CHILAQUILAS

Steps:

• Combine tomato and red onion in a food processor; blend, slowly adding queso fresco, until a paste forms.
• Fold corn tortillas in half and fill them with the tomato and red onion paste.
• Beat egg whites in a bowl with an electric mixer until foamy. Add egg yolks one by one, mixing thoroughly until blended into the egg whites.
• Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip 1 filled tortilla into the egg mixture to coat both sides, letting excess drip back into the bowl. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining oil and filled tortillas.

COSTA RICAN CHILAQUILES (TORTILLA & MEAT)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Fill each tortilla with meat, fold in half.
• Dip the folded tortilla in the beaten egg and fry on a skillet in oil.
• Brown on both sides.
• Arrange the tortillas in an oven proof dish.
• (you can prepare the dish up to this point and do the final steps just before serving) Cover the tortillas with the tomato sauce, garlic, jalapenos and cheese.
• Season with salt & pepper.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until hot through.
• Serve with black beans and rice.

GUADALAJARA STYLE CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Boil tomatoes and chiles until soft.
• Mix them in blender with the garlic and water.
• Heat 1 tbsp of oil and fry this paste, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
• Cut the tortillas in strips with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• Heat 4 tbsp of oil and fry the tortilla strips until crispy.
• Drain oil and add the three eggs to pan. Stir strips and eggs quickly so they don't stick to the pan. Add salt to taste.
• Place on a serving bowl, pour the sauce over them and sprinkle with onion and cheese.
• Serve immediately. Enjoy with a side of refried beans.