Chicken Chilaquiles Casserole With Tomatillo Salsa Food

CHILAQUILES WITH ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Special equipment: 4 individual casserole dishes
• To make the salsa:
• Preheat the broiler or oven to 550 degrees F.
• Remove husks from the tomatillos and rinse under warm water to remove the stickiness. Put the chiles, garlic, onion and tomatillos on a baking sheet. Season with a little olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste. Put on a rack about 1 or 2 inches from the heat, and cook, turning the vegetables once, until softened and slightly charred, about 5 to 7 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the garlic and pull off the tops of the chiles. Add all the broiled ingredients to a blender along with the fresh cilantro and puree. Pour in 1/4 cup of chicken broth and blend to combine. Add more broth, if needed, for desired consistency.
• To make the chilaquiles:
• Pour about 1/3 cup vegetable oil into a large saute pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the tortillas, working in 2 or 3 batches, and cook until lightly browned and nearly crisp. Drain the tortillas on paper towels and discard the remaining oil. Wipe the pan with a paper towel.
• In the same pan, add the tomatillo salsa and bring to simmer over low heat. Add the tortillas and cook until soft but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide the mixture among 4 individual casserole dishes. Top with the cheese crumbles and onion rings. Drizzle with Mexican crema, sprinkle with some chopped fresh cilantro and serve immediately.
• *Cook's Note: Salsa Verde means "green sauce" and is typically made with tomatillos, green chiles and cilantro. Make your own fresh, or you can also find it canned at most supermarkets.
• Tomatillos are a small green fruit encased in a tissue paper-like husk. They should be used when they are still green, before they are ripe and the husk has turned brown. Before using, remove the husk, rinse and dry the fruit. (They do not need to be seeded.) They are found in most supermarkets
• **Cook's Note: Chilaquiles is a Mexican brunch dish invented to use leftovers. It is made with day old tortillas (cut or torn into chips) and salsa verde. They are cooked together until the tortillas are slightly softened. Chilaquiles are eaten alone or with beans, eggs or shredded chicken.
• ***Cook's Note: Queso fresco is a white, mild, fresh Mexican cheese with the texture of fresh farmer's cheese in the US. Queso fresco can be found in many supermarkets, Latin specialty markets or online. It can be substituted with a mild feta cheese.

CHILAQUILES STRATA WITH TOMATILLO SALSA AND TOMATO-CORN-AVOCADO SALAD WITH GREEN ONION VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the tomatillo salsa: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Combine the tomatillos, garlic and onion on a baking sheet. Toss with the canola oil and some salt and pepper to combine. Roast in the oven until the mixture is slightly charred and soft, stirring once, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Reduce the oven heat to 375 degrees F.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. Add the spinach, cilantro, chipotle, lime juice and some salt and pepper and process until smooth. Taste, and add some honey as desired to balance the acidity of the tomatillos. Measure out 1 cup and transfer the rest to a serving bowl.
• For the strata: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the milk, 1 cup of the tomatillo salsa, half of the Cheddar, half of the Monterey Jack and the cilantro and stir until combined. Stir in the chips and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Scatter the remaining Cheddar and Monterey Jack on top.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and bake until lightly golden brown and puffed, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with the cotija and bake for another 5 minutes.
• While the strata bakes, make the salad: Heat the canola oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the corn and cook, tossing, just to warm, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, avocados, parsley and some salt and pepper and toss gently once or twice.
• Combine the green onions, lime juice, mustard and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk in about 1/3 cup olive oil to combine; taste, add more oil or honey as desired.
• Pour the green onion vinaigrette around the corn mixture and fold gently to combine. Let the salad sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
• Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with the tomato-corn-avocado salad and the remaining tomatillo salsa.

CHILAQUILES WITH TURKEY AND ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Fry tortilla strips:
• Heat oil in a 3 1/2-quart flameproof nonreactive shallow casserole or deep skillet to 375°F. Fry tortillas in batches, turning occasionally, until golden, about 1 minute, and transfer to paper towels to drain (return oil to 375°F between batches). Carefully pour off all but 1 tablespoon hot oil into a large metal bowl to cool before discarding.
• Make chilaquiles:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook onion in oil in casserole over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened. Add broth and turkey and simmer, uncovered, stirring, until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups salsa and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and toss with Monterey Jack and tortilla strips. Bake chilaquiles, uncovered, in middle of oven until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Whisk together crème fraîche and milk. Serve chilaquiles topped with crème fraîche, cilantro, and cheese.

CHICKEN CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°. In a blender or food processor, puree the tomatillos, garlic, jalapeño and cilantro until smooth. In a large saucepan, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the cumin and coriander and cook over high heat until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the tomatillo puree, bring to a boil and cook until the sauce loses its bright green color, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with 3/4 cup of the pepper Jack, the farmer cheese, scallion and half of the tomatillo sauce; season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, toss the tortilla chips with the remaining sauce.
• Spread half of the chips in an 8-by-11-inch baking dish; top with the chicken and cover with the remaining tortilla chips. Don't pack the chips down. Dollop the sour cream over the chips and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup of pepper Jack. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is browned. Serve at once.

GREEN CHICKEN CHILAQUILES CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a large saucepan. Place the breasts in the stock, reduce the heat to moderate, cover and cook until the meat is tender, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool in the stock. When cool, remove the skin and bones and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Strain and reserve the stock for another use.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the fresh tomatillo salsa, heavy cream, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, the onion and shredded chicken pieces.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the tortillas just about 5 seconds per side to soften, and then transfer to a large colander to drain.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 4 quart casserole or 6 to 8 individual casseroles (at the restaurant, we use small soup bowls).
• Combine the cheeses in a mixing bowl.
• To assemble the chilaquiles, spread a thin layer of the cheese mixture over the bottom of the baking dish. Push the solids in the bowl of chicken and tomatillo sauce to the side so the liquids form a pool in the bottom. Dip all the softened tortillas in the pool to moisten. Layer one third of the moist tortillas over the cheese and top with half of the chicken mixture with its sauce. Sprinkle half of the remaining cheese over the chicken. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of tortillas on top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake 30 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving or unmolding.
• In blender place tomatillos, jalapenos and water. Puree until just chunky. Add remaining ingredients and puree about 2 minutes more, or until no large chunks remain. This salsa keeps in the refrigerator, in a covered container, about 3 days.
• In large bowl combine all ingredients and stir until smooth. The dough should be slightly sticky and form a ball when pressed together. To test, flatten a small piece of dough between your palms. If the edges crack, add water to the dough, a tablespoon at a time, until a test piece does not crack.
• Divide the dough into 24 golf ball size pieces for tacos and 12 large balls for quesadillas. Place on a platter and cover with a damp towel. Line a tortilla press with 2 sheets of plastic cut from a plastic freezer bag or other heavy duty plastic bag.
• Heat a dry cast iron skillet, or non-stick pan until moderately hot. Flatten each ball of dough in the tortilla press, then remove the plastic from the top and, holding the tortilla with your fingertips, peel off the bottom sheet. Lay the tortillas one by one on the skillet and cook about 30 to 45 seconds per side, pressing the top of each tortilla with your fingertips to make it puff. Place the hot tortillas on a towel.
• When they are still warm but not hot, stack and wrap in a towel. Serve immediately or let cool, wrap well in plastic or a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator up to a week.

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.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Line baking tray with aluminum foil.
• Place chicken breasts on foil.
• Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle with cumin seed.
• Place 1/4 of onion slices on each chicken breast half.
• Cover all with tomatillo salsa.
• Place another sheet of aluminum foil on top of chicken breasts and fold all four sides until sealed very tight.
• Bake foil packet on tray in 375 oven for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and carefully remove top foil sheet.
• Place a slice of pepper jack cheese on each chicken breast half.
• Sprinkle all with chopped cilantro.
• Return to the oven uncovered.
• Remove from the oven when cheese has melted.
• Meanwhile heat tortillas.
• Serve one chicken breast per person.
• Place a tbsp of sour cream on top of each chicken breast half.
• Serve with hot tortillas and refried or borracho beans.

CHILAQUILES WITH ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Special equipment: 4 individual casserole dishes (I just used plates!).
• To make the salsa: Preheat the broiler or oven to 550 degrees F.
• Remove husks from the tomatillos and rinse under warm water to remove the stickiness. Put the chiles, garlic, onion and tomatillos on a baking sheet. Season with a little olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste. Put on a rack about 1 or 2 inches from the heat, and cook, turning the vegetables once, until softened and slightly charred, about 5 to 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the garlic and pull off the tops of the chiles. Add all the broiled ingredients to a blender along with the fresh cilantro and puree. Pour in 1/4 cup of chicken broth and blend to combine. Add more broth, if needed, for desired consistency.
• To make the chilaquiles: Pour about 1/3 cup vegetable oil into a large saute pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the tortillas, working in 2 or 3 batches, and cook until lightly browned and nearly crisp. Drain the tortillas on paper towels and discard the remaining oil. Wipe the pan with a paper towel.
• In the same pan, add the tomatillo salsa and bring to simmer over low heat. (Be careful because it may splatter. I used a splatter screen) Add the tortillas and cook until soft but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide the mixture among 4 individual casserole dishes. Top with the cheese crumbles and onion rings. Drizzle with Mexican crema, sprinkle with some chopped fresh cilantro and serve immediately.

CHICKEN WITH CHILAQUILES AND SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Stir together sour cream and just enough milk to get a thick pourable consistency.
• Bring salsa and broth to a boil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat. Add chicken, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, until chicken is heated through, 1 to 2 minutes, then stir in 6 cups tortilla chips and cook until chips are softened (but not mushy), about 1 minute.
• Transfer chilaquiles to a large platter. Sprinkle with feta, cilantro, and 1 cup broken chips and serve immediately, with thinned sour cream on the side.

CHILAQUILES WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• To make the fried tortilla strips, slice corn tortillas into thin strips.
• Fry in a large skillet of hot oil until light golden brown and crisp, watching carefully so they do not burn.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• To assemble the casserole, spread the corn strips on the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish.
• Place the chicken on top and cover with the sauce, then top with cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.
• Spread the sour cream over the top of the casserole and serve.