Ten Minute Chilaquiles Recipes

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.

JOLLYROGERS' CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Put chopped onion and sliced olives in separate small bowls and combine each with 1/4 cup of vinegar. Set aside to marinate. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chorizo, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 10 minutes. Remove the chorizo from the skillet and set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup of oil in the skillet and add the tortilla pieces, cooking and stirring over medium-low heat until just beginning to get crisp and golden at the edges, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and drain the tortillas; pour 1 tablespoon of the oil into a saucepan.
• Heat the saucepan over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking. Add the flour, and cook and stir until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour in the regular and hot tomato sauces, water, browned chorizo, cocoa powder, sugar, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, oregano, and taco seasoning. Simmer the sauce about 5 minutes to blend the flavors. Stir in diced chiles and tortillas. Simmer about 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until tortillas have softened and the mixture is thick.
• Drain the onion and olives. Spoon a layer of tortilla mixture evenly into a 2 quart baking dish or serving dish, and follow with a layer of about 2 tablespoons marinated onion, then a layer of 2 tablespoons olives, followed by a layer of 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers twice more. Serve hot.

CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Turn on the broiler. Line a broiler pan with foil. Arrange the chilies in a single layer on the pan. Place under the flame and roast, turning frequently, until the peppers are charred and blistered on all sides. Transfer to a brown paper bag, seal and let stand until cooled. Slide off the skins and remove the seeds. Dice the pulp.
• Lower the oven temperature to 200 degrees.
• Place the tomatillos in a heavy skillet large enough to hold them all in a single layer. Toast over medium heat, turning often, until they start to soften and turn brown. Cool, then remove the husks and chop the pulp. (For esthetic reasons, you may want to scrape off the black parts of both the chilies and the tomatillos, although they won't affect the taste.)
• Heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet over a medium-low flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute, stirring occasionally, until very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatillos, chilies, broth, cumin and oregano. Blend well and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, heat the corn oil in a small heavy skillet or saucepan until a thermometer registers 165 degrees. Cut the tortillas in half, then into strips about 1-inch across. Add the strips to the hot oil in batches and fry until crisp. Drain well on paper towels and hold in the oven.
• Break the eggs into a mixing bowl and add the Tabasco, salt and pepper and the 2 tablespoons of sour cream. Beat until completely blended. Melt the butter in a skillet and pour in the eggs. Cook, stirring, until the eggs are fluffy but set.
• To serve, lay a handful of tortilla strips on each of 4 serving plates. Top with a generous spoonful of chili sauce, then another layer of strips and another spoonful of sauce (you should have more sauce than tortillas). Arrange a portion of scrambled eggs either alongside or on top. Garnish with a little sour cream and a sprinkling of cilantro and serve at once, with refried beans if you like.

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.