Cooks Illustrated Enchiladas Verdes Food

AUTHENTIC ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine chicken breast with chicken broth, one quarter onion, a clove of garlic, and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, and then boil for 20 minutes. Reserve broth, set chicken aside to cool, and discard onion and garlic. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken with your hands.
• Place tomatillos and serrano chiles in a pot with water, enough to cover them. Bring to boil, and continue boiling until tomatillos turn a different shade of green (from bright green to a dull, army green). Strain tomatillos and chiles, and place in a blender with another quarter piece of onion, 1 clove garlic, and a pinch of salt. Pour in reserved chicken broth, so that liquid just covers the veggies in the blender by about an inch. Blend all ingredients until they are completely pureed. Pour salsa in a medium saucepan, and bring to a low boil.
• Pour oil in a frying pan, and allow to get very hot. Slightly fry tortillas one by one in hot oil, setting each on a paper towel afterwards to soak some of the oil. Finally, dip slightly fried tortillas in low-boiling green salsa, until tortillas become soft again. Place on plates, 3 per person.
• Fill or top tortillas with shredded chicken, then extra green sauce. Top with crumbled cheese, chopped onion, and chopped cilantro.

ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Cover a large griddle with aluminum foil and preheat to medium-high.
• Cook the garlic, serrano peppers, and tomatillos on the hot griddle until toasted and blackened, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes for the garlic, 10 minutes for the peppers, and 15 minutes for the tomatillos. Remove to a bowl and allow to cool.
• Heat oil in a small, deep skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Using kitchen tongs, fry the tortillas individually, turning them once. They shouldn't be in the hot oil for more than 5 seconds per side. Remove excess oil with paper towels and keep warm. Remember that the hotter the oil, the less that the tortillas will absorb.
• Place the toasted garlic, serrano peppers, tomatillos, and the water in a blender and blend until smooth; pour into a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Dissolve the chicken bouillon into the mixture, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. The sauce shouldn't be too thick.
• Soak three tortillas in the sauce, one at a time, for a few seconds, fill them with shredded chicken, sprinkle the meat with some of the sauce, roll them and place them seam side down on a pasta bowl. Spoon a generous amount of sauce over them and top them with lettuce, cilantro, crema, and cotija cheese. Pour a little more sauce over the whole thing if desired. Repeat the procedure twice more. Serve immediately.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Prepare sauce: Heat water in large pot to boiling.
• Add tomatillos, 2 onion halves, 6 garlic cloves, and 7 serrano chiles.
• Simmer uncovered 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly, then drain, reserving about 1 cup cooking liquid.
• Place solids in blender or food processor.
• Add remaining onion half, 4 garlic cloves, 3 chiles, the cilantro, and about 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
• Process until smooth.
• Heat oil in medium saucepan.
• Add onion slices and saute until lightly browned.
• Stir in sauce and season with salt.
• Simmer uncovered until slightly thickened, about 30- 45 minutes.
• If sauce thickens too much, thin it with remaining cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, when the sauce ingredients are simmering, prepare stuffing.
• Heat 2 qt water in large pot to boiling.
• Add chicken, onion, garlic, and salt to taste.
• Simmer just until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Let cool, then remove chicken from liquid.
• Remove and discard skin and bones; shred meat.
• Prepare tortillas: When the sauce is nearly ready and the stuffing is ready, heat small amount of oil in skillet over medium heat.
• Cook tortillas one at a time, turning once, just until flexible but not crisp, about 20 seconds each.
• Drain on a thick layer of paper towels wrapped up inside a clean cloth kitchen towel (or tortilla warmer).
• This will drain them and keep them soft and warm.
• Heat oven to 3500°F.
• Coat two 13x9 baking pans with vegetable oil.
• Dip each tortilla in sauce.
• Fill tortillas with shredded chicken and roll up.
• Arrange a dozen filled tortillas in each pan.
• Top with green sauce.
• Spoon creme fraiche (or sour cream) over sauce.
• Sprinkle chopped onion and cilantro over the top.
• Sprinkle cheese over all.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Broil briefly if the top needs some browning.
• Serve hot with refried beans.
• Note:.
• To freeze: Prepare recipe through step 26. Place rolled enchiladas on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Transfer to a freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze. Place sauce in a second freezer bag and place both bags in a larger bag. Seal and freeze.
• To serve: Thaw in fridge overnight. Complete assembly and bake as directed in recipe.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Shred chicken.
• Mix chicken with 3/4 cups salsa verde, 1 1/2 cups cheese, 1/4 cup cilantro, salt, and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spread 1 cup salsa over bottom of a 9 X 13 inch baking dish.
• Microwave tortillas on high in MICROWAVE SAFE plastic bag until warm, about 45 seconds. (So they are easier to roll.).
• Working one at a time, spoon about 1/4 cup chicken filling onto a tortilla-roll into a cylinder and place, seam side down, in baking dish.
• Drizzle enchiladas with 1 1/2 cups of salsa, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Lightly spray sheet of foil with cooking spray, cover dish and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
• Remove foil-sprinkle with onion and remaining cilantro-let stand a few minutes.
• Serve with remaining salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
• Note about freezing: Make up filling through step 2, freeze, defrost in fridge 24 hours before, and proceed with remaining part of recipe.

ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• To prepare enchilada filling, combine chicken and next 9 ingredients (chicken through black pepper) in a large bowl. Spread 1/2 cup salsa verde in bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Arrange enchiladas, seam sides down, crosswise in dish. Pour remaining salsa verde evenly over enchiladas. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with sour cream, and garnish with sliced jalapeno, if desired.
• To prepare salsa verde, discard husks and stems from tomatillos; cut into quarters. Combine tomatillos, 11/4 cups broth, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and chopped jalapeno in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until tomatillos are tender. Cool slightly. Place salsa verde in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth or mash with a potato masher. Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add salsa verde; cook until reduced to 2 cups (about 1 minute).

COOK'S ILLUSTRATED ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Adjust oven racks to middle and highest positions and heat broiler. Heat 2 tsp oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering; add onion and cook, stirring frequently until golden, 6-8 minutes. Add 2 tsp garlic and cumin; cook stirring frequently until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Decrease heat to low and stir in broth. Add chicken breast, cover, and simmer until instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees, 15 - 20 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking. Transfer chicken to large bowl; place in refrigerator to cool. Remove 1/4 cup liquid from saucepan and set aside; discard remaining liquid.
• Meanwhile, toss tomatillos and poblanos with remaining 2 tsp oil; arrange on rimmed baking sheet lined with foil, with poblanos skin-side up. Broil until vegetables blacken and start to softened, 5-10 minutes, rotating pan halfway through cooking. Cool 10 minutes then remove skin from poblanos (leave tomatillo skin intact). Transfer tomatillos and chiles to a food processor. Turn off broiler and set oven temperature to 450 degrees.
• Add 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, remaining tsp garlic, and reserved cooking liquid to food processor; process until sauce is somewhat chunky, about 8 1-second pulses. Taste sauce; season with salt and pepper and adjust tartness by stirring in remaining sugar, 1/2 tsp at a time. Set aside sauce (you should have 3 cups).
• When chicken is cool, pull into shreds using hands or 2 forks. Combine chicken with cilantro and 1 1/2 cups cheese, season with salt.
• Spread 3/4 cup sauce on the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish. Place tortillas on microwave plate and microwave for 15-25 seconds, until soft. Place warm tortillas on counter top and spread 1/3 cup filling down the center of each tortillas. Roll each tortillas tightly and place in baking dish, seam side down. Pour remaining tomatillo sauce over top of enchiladas. Use the back of a spoon to spread sauce so that it coats the top of each tortilla. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Cover baking dish with foil.
• Bake enchiladas on middle rack until heated through and cheese is melted, 15-20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with scallions and serve immediately. Garnish with avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and scallions.

ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering; add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add 2 teaspoons garlic and cumin; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Decrease heat to low and stir in broth.
• Add chicken, cover, and simmer until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 160 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking.
• Transfer chicken to large bowl; place in refrigerator to cool, about 20 minutes.
• Remove 1/4 cup liquid from saucepan and set aside; discard remaining liquid.
• If using fresh tomatillos and poblano chiles adjust oven racks to middle and highest positions and heat broiler (if using canned, skip to step 11 ).
• Toss tomatillos and poblanos with remaining 2 teaspoons oil; arrange on rimmed baking sheet lined with foil, with poblanos skin-side up.
• Broil until vegetables blacken and start to soften, 5 to 10 minutes, rotating pan halfway through cooking.
• Cool 10 minutes, then remove skin from poblanos (leave tomatillo skins intact).
• Transfer tomatillos and chiles to food processor.
• Set oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Discard foil from baking sheet and set baking sheet aside for warming tortillas.
• Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, remaining teaspoon garlic, and reserved cooking liquid to food processor; process until sauce is somewhat chunky, about eight 1-second pulses.
• Taste sauce; season with salt and pepper and adjust tartness by stirring in remaining sugar, 1/2 teaspoon at a time.
• Set sauce aside (you should have about 3 cups).
• When chicken is cool, pull into shreds using hands or 2 forks, then chop into small bite-sized pieces.
• Combine chicken with cilantro and 1 1/2 cups cheese; season with salt.
• Smear bottom of 13- by 9-inch baking dish with 3/4 cup tomatillo sauce.
• Place tortillas on 2 baking sheets; spray both sides of tortillas lightly with cooking spray.
• Bake until tortillas are soft and pliable, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees.
• Place warm tortillas on countertop and spread 1/3 cup filling down center of each tortilla.
• Roll each tortilla tightly and place in baking dish, seam-side down.
• Pour remaining tomatillo sauce over top of enchiladas; use back of spoon to spread sauce so that it coats top of each tortilla.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese and cover baking dish with foil.
• Bake enchiladas on middle rack until heated through and cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Uncover, sprinkle with scallions, and serve immediately, passing radishes and sour cream separately.

ENCHILADAS VERDE

Steps:

• Adjust oven racks to middle and highest positions and heat broiler. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering; add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons garlic and cumin; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Decrease heat to low and stir in broth. Add chicken, cover, and simmer until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 160 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking. Transfer chicken to large bowl; place in refrigerator to cool, about 20 minutes. Remove 1/4 cup liquid from saucepan and set aside; discard remaining liquid.
• Meanwhile, toss tomatillos and poblanos with remaining 2 teaspoons oil; arrange on rimmed baking sheet lined with foil, with poblanos skin-side up. Broil until vegetables blacken and start to soften, 5 to 10 minutes, rotating pan halfway through cooking. Cool 10 minutes, then remove skin from poblanos (leave tomatillo skins intact). Transfer tomatillos and chiles to food processor. Decrease oven temperature to 350 degrees. Discard foil from baking sheet and set baking sheet aside for warming tortillas.
• Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, remaining teaspoon garlic, and reserved cooking liquid to food processor; process until sauce is somewhat chunky, about eight 1-second pulses. Taste sauce; season with salt and pepper and adjust tartness by stirring in remaining sugar, 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Set sauce aside (you should have about 3 cups).
• When chicken is cool, pull into shreds using hands or 2 forks, then chop into small bite-sized pieces. Combine chicken with cilantro and 11/2 cups cheese; season with salt.
• Smear bottom of 13- by 9-inch baking dish with 3/4 cup tomatillo sauce. Place tortillas on 2 baking sheets. Spray both sides of tortillas lightly with cooking spray. Bake until tortillas are soft and pliable, 2 to 4 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Place warm tortillas on countertop and spread 1/3 cup filling down center of each tortilla. Roll each tortilla tightly and place in baking dish, seam-side down. Pour remaining tomatillo sauce over top of enchiladas. Use back of spoon to spread sauce so that it coats top of each tortilla. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and cover baking dish with foil.
• Bake enchiladas on middle rack until heated through and cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with scallions, and serve immediately.

ENCHILADAS VERDES (GREEN ENCHILADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Arrange peppers on prepared baking sheet.
• Broil peppers in the preheated oven until skins begin to blister and turn black, about 5 minutes. Turn peppers and repeat until other side is evenly blistered and blackened.
• Place peppers in a plastic resealable bag, seal, and cover with a kitchen towel. Let peppers sit so the steam loosens the outer skin, about 10 minutes. Remove peppers from bag and rub off blackened skin. Break open and remove seeds and stem.
• Blend peppers, flour, and 2 cups buttermilk in a blender until creamy. Transfer to a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add remaining 2 cups buttermilk and stir. Season with salt. Simmer until sauce is thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add chicken. Boil until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 25 minutes. Drain, cool, and shred chicken.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry corn tortillas in hot oil, working in batches, until just softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Pour about 1 cup of pepper enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Fill each tortilla with shredded chicken, diced onion, and 1 to 2 tablespoons Monterey Jack cheese. Roll tortilla around the filling and place seam-side down into the pepper enchilada sauce in the baking dish. Top enchiladas with remaining pepper sauce, remaining Monterey Jack cheese, and queso fresco.
• Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted, 20 to 25 minutes. Top with Mexican crema to serve.