Moms Red Chile Chilaquiles Recipes

CHILAQUILES ROJOS

Steps:

• To make the sauce: Measure the flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt and cinnamon into a small bowl. Place the bowl near the stove with the tomato paste and broth.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the oil until it's it's hot enough that a light sprinkle of the flour/spice mixture sizzles on contact. This might take a couple of minutes. Keep an eye on it.
• Once it's ready, pour in the flour and spice mixture. While whisking constantly, cook until fragrant and slightly deepened in color, about 1 minute. Whisk the tomato paste into the mixture, then slowly pour in the broth while whisking constantly to remove any lumps.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, whisking often, for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the sauce has thickened a bit and your spoon encounters some resistance as you stir it.
• Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting. Whisk in the cilantro and vinegar and season to taste with additional salt, if necessary (I usually add another pinch or two).
• To make the chilaquiles: Add the tortilla chips to the skillet. Using a flexible spatula, gently toss until all of the chips are coated in sauce. It might seem like they never will be, but keep stirring!
• Once coated, remove the skillet from the heat. Test a chip to see if it has softened to your liking (this is really a matter of personal preference-I like my chips lightly tender). If the chips are not sufficiently softened, cover the skillet for 1 to 4 minutes, until you're happy with their texture.
• Sprinkle the chilaquiles generously with crumbled cheese, radish and cilantro leaves. Scoop servings onto individual plates, add a few slices of avocado, a fried egg if desired, and a wedge of lime. The chips will continue softening with time, so chilaquiles are best served promptly (do not re-cover the pan to preserve heat; the chips will get far too soggy).

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.

NANA POBLANO CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• For the poblano cream: Place tomatillos in a large saucepan with stock and simmer over low heat until tomatillos are soft and liquid is reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Add milk and heavy cream and simmer for about 5 more minutes on low heat. Add sour cream and puree with a stick blender until smooth.
• For the refried beans: Open, rinse, and drain the pinto beans. In a large saute pan or cast-iron skillet add lard and onions and cook over medium-low heat until onions are soft and translucent. Add drained beans and 1/2 cup water and cook slowly. Mash beans with a potato masher and simmer until slightly thickened.
• For the chilaquiles: Place a large saute pan over medium heat and add poblano cream. Heat until hot. Add tortilla chips, making sure to coat chips with poblano cream, and cook until they break and get very soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Divide into four bowls. Serve with refried beans and garnish with queso fresco, sour cream, cilantro and onion.

RED CHILE CHICKEN CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• To make Red Chile Sauce, remove stems, seeds, and veins from chile pods. Place in colander; rinse well with cool water.
• Place chiles in 3-quart saucepan; add enough water so chiles are just covered. Heat water to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn chiles over with tongs to make sure chiles soften evenly. Drain cooked pods; cool before blending.
• In blender, combine 2 1/2 cups water, the cooled chile pods, flour, salt and garlic. Cover; blend until smooth. Strain sauce through fine mesh strainer into bowl to remove skins and seeds; discard skins and seeds. Stir in tomato sauce. Taste; if necessary, season with additional salt.
• To make Chilaquiles, cut corn tortillas into quarters. In 10- to 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add tortilla pieces; fry until crunchy.
• Reduce heat to low. Add 2 cups of the Red Chile Sauce; mix just until all tortillas are coated. Stir in chicken; top with Oaxaca cheese. Cook just until cheese is melted. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with green onions and queso fresco cheese; garnish with cilantro.

RED CHILAQUILES WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, chiles, chopped onion and garlic in a blender, and blend until coarsely pureed.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet or a wide saucepan over medium-high heat, and add a drop of the puree. It should sizzle. Add all of the tomato puree, and cook, stirring, for about five to ten minutes, until the sauce darkens, thickens and begins to stick to the pan. Add water or stock if the mixture seems dry, and season to taste with salt. Turn the heat to low, and simmer, stirring often, for about 15 minutes, until the sauce coats the front and back of a spoon. Taste and adjust salt.
• Stir in the chicken and heat through. Stir in the tortilla chips or pieces, stir together for a half minute, and remove from the heat. Spinkle the cheese, cilantro and sliced onion over the top, and serve.