Greens And Chayote Enchiladas With Salsa Verde Food

GREENS AND CHAYOTE ENCHILADAS WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Strip chard leaves from stems and wash in 2 changes of water. Rinse stems and cut in small dice if wide, or, if thin, slice crosswise 1/4 inch thick. Set aside stems with chayote in one bowl and leaves in another.
• Make the salsa verde: Combine tomatillos, jalapeños and onion in a medium saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, until tomatillos have gone from pale green to olive and have softened. Using a slotted spoon, transfer tomatillos, onion and one of the jalapeños to a blender. Do not drain water from pot. Let vegetables cool in blender while you blanch greens and chayote.
• Add more water to the pot so it is about 2/3 full. Return to a boil, salt generously, and add leaves. Blanch until tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer leaves to a bowl of cold water to quickly shock, then drain and dry. Chop coarsely and set aside.
• Return water to a simmer and add chayote and chard stems. Simmer 5 minutes, or until just tender. Drain through a colander and again on paper towels.
• Add whole garlic cloves and cilantro sprigs to ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Taste for heat and add remaining jalapeño if desired.
• Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add tomatillo purée and partly cover to protect from splattering. Cook, stirring often, until it thickens and begins to stick to the pan, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in stock, add salt to taste, and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring often, until sauce is thick and coats the front and back of a spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat and add minced garlic. When fragrant, after about 30 seconds, stir in oregano, blanched leaves, stems and chayote. Cook, stirring for about 3 minutes, until tender, fragrant and coated with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup salsa verde and set aside.
• Prepare the tortillas: Heat 1/3 cup canola oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, until oil bubbles around the edges of a tortilla when you dip it into the pan. Place a platter covered with paper towels next to pan. Using tongs, slide tortillas, one at a time, into hot oil. As soon as tortilla begins to puff, about 10 to 15 seconds, flip over and leave another 10 to 15 seconds. Immediately remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Cover with foil to keep warm.
• One by one, quickly dip tortillas into the remaining warm salsa verde, lay on serving platter, and top with about 1/4 cup filling. Roll up tortilla and place seam side down on platter. When all tortillas have been filled, pour remaining salsa verde on top, sprinkle with cilantro and queso fresco and serve.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH GREEN CHILE SAUCE (SALSA VERDE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Combine chicken, onion mixture, cheese blend, cream cheese, salsa verde, olives, cilantro, and jalapenos in a large bowl for the filling. Mix well.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, then chicken broth. Cook until sauce starts to thicken, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in sour cream and salsa verde; cook until heated through. Spread a spoonful of sauce over the bottoms of two 9x11-inch casserole dishes.
• Wrap a tortilla in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds. Fill with the chicken mixture, roll up, and place seam-side down into a baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas until each dish holds 8 enchiladas.
• Spoon remaining sauce over the enchiladas. Sprinkle cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH GREEN SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Combine chicken, 1/2 of the onion, peppercorns, salt, and bay leaf in a small pot. Cover with water and bring to a slow boil. Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken to a plate and shred meat with a fork. Discard broth or reserve for another use.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir in remaining onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Transfer onion to a bowl and mix in shredded chicken, 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, and cotija cheese.
• Combine tomatillos, green chiles, cream, cilantro, serrano pepper, egg, and salt for sauce in a blender; blend until smooth.
• Stuff warmed tortillas with chicken mixture. Roll and place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Pour all sauce over top. It may seem runny, but it will set up. Sprinkle remaining Monterey Jack on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 20 minutes.

SALSA VERDE ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place chicken in a medium bowl. Stir 1 cup salsa verde into chicken to evenly coat. Stir in garlic powder and salt/pepper to taste.
• Grease a 13" by 9" glass or ceramic baking dish and set aside.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat remaining salsa verde and lime juice to boiling on medium-high. Boil 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 tablespoons cilantro; keep warm over very low heat.
• With tongs, place 1 tortilla in salsa verde mixture; heat 10 seconds. Place tortilla on waxed paper; top with about 1/3 cup shredded-chicken mixture. Roll up tortilla and place, seam side down, in prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and chicken mixture, arranging 12 tortillas in the dish.
• Stir sour cream and broth into remaining salsa verde mixture in skillet; spoon over filled tortillas. Cover baking dish with foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil; sprinkle with cheese and 1 tablespoon cilantro. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.
• Serve with lime wedges.

ENCHILADAS VERDE

Steps:

• Place the chicken breast in a pot of water with 1/2 onion and 2-3 garlic cloves. Season with a little salt and/or a small amount of powdered chicken bouillon. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer until chicken is thoroughly cooked and shreds easily. Keep warm once cooked.
• Remove the outer husk from tomatillos, wash and place in a large pot of water with the serrano chiles. Bring to a boil and cook just until tomatillos change color to a dull olive green--no more than 5-10 minutes.
• Puree the tomatillos in a blender, adding the serrano chiles, and remaining garlic and onion. Add the cilantro and pulse until well blended. Pour into a saucepot, taste for seasonings, and add about a tablespoon of chicken bouillon powder if needed. Heat thoroughly, but do not overcook.
• Remove chicken from water, place it on a cutting board and using two forks or your fingers, shred finely along the natural grain lines of the meat. Keep warm in a bowl, and add a few drops of cooking water if needed to keep it moist.
• Heat tortillas on a griddle or in the microwave. Spread about a tablespoon of sauce on a tortilla, add enough chicken to fill it, roll up the tortilla and place seam side down on the serving platter or individual dinner plates. Repeat, placing enchiladas close together. Pour sauce over the enchiladas, and garnish with a few tablespoons of cream, some shredded cheese, the lettuce, tomato and cilantro. (Unlike enchiladas north of the border, these do not go into the oven--they are served immediately upon making.).
• Extra sauce can be used in other recipes.