Mexican Tortillas Food

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Either by hand or with a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening till the mixture is crumbly. If the mixture looks more floury than crumbly, be sure to add just one or two more tablespoons of shortening till it is crumbly. Add about 3/4 cup hot water to the mixture, or just enough to make the ingredients look moist.
• With your hand or a large fork, knead the mixture making sure to rub the dough against the sides of the large mixing bowl to gather any clinging dough. If the dough still sticks to the side of the bowl, add a couple more tablespoons of flour until the dough forms a soft round shape. The dough is ready to roll out now, but it is best to let it rest. Cover it with a dish towel, and let it sit for about an hour or so.
• Take the dough, and pull it apart into 10 to 12 balls. Lightly flour your rolling area, and roll each ball with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thickness.
• Place each tortilla on a medium hot cast iron skillet. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla does not look doughy.

MEXICAN TORTILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the tomatoes, onion and garlic, stir and cook for a minute or two to soften the onion. Add 2 teaspoons of the chili powder, 1 teaspoon of the paprika and 1 teaspoon of the cumin. Stir and cook the mixture for another minute or two to release the flavors of the spices. Remove the mixture to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chicken along with the remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute the chicken until it's deep golden brown and done in the middle, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water and stir to make a sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it's reduced by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the beans and set aside.
• To assemble the casserole, pour half a jar (about 1 cup) of salsa verde into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish or disposable foil baking pan. Add a layer of half the tortillas on top of the salsa verde, overlapping the edges. Spoon the rice over the tortillas, spread the tomato mixture over the rice, then sprinkle the corn over the tomatoes. Next, add the chicken and bean mixture, then sprinkle on half the cheese and pour over half the enchilada sauce. Next, add the rest of the tortillas, then pour on the rest of the salsa verde and the rest of the enchilada sauce and sprinkle on the rest of the cheese.
• If you're baking the casserole right away, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.
• Find this recipe and more in Ree's new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime ($30, William Morrow Cookbooks).

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Snap the tops off of the dried chilies, and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain the water, and place chilies into a food processor or blender with the garlic and salt. Puree until smooth. Press sauce through a strainer, and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Soak each tortilla in the sauce, then place in the hot oil. Turn over almost immediately, and fry for about 5 seconds on the other side. Remove to a plate that is lined with paper towels. The easiest way to do this is to fry the tortillas and stack them directly on top of each other until you have fried them all. This will keep the tortillas pliable until you are ready to fill them.
• Take one fried tortilla at a time, and fill with about 2 tablespoons of the queso fresco. Roll up, and place seam side down on a plate. Place three of these on each plate. Top in the following order: Start with a layer of sour cream, then a small handful of lettuce, three tomato slices, 2 more tablespoons of queso fresco, and finally, 1 tablespoon of green onions.

THE BEST MEXICAN TORTILLA ROLL UPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream the cream cheese until smooth.
• Add the salsa, taco seasoning, green chilies, black olives and pimentos (drained well).
• Mix well with a spoon.
• Spread the mixture on the flour tortillas.
• I use about 1/4 to 1/3 cup for each tortilla.
• Cut in 1 inch slices and serve with additional salsa to dip into.

MEXICAN CHICKEN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, swirl 1 tsp of the oil around, then add a tortilla. Sprinkle a handful of the cheese over one half of the tortilla, followed by some chicken and a few tomato slices. Season with a little salt and pepper. Cook for a few moments to melt the cheese, then fold over and cook until the tortilla is crisp.
• Turn the tortilla out of the pan and cut into quarters. Repeat with another flour tortilla to make another child's portion.
• For the adults' version, start by making a simple guacamole. Halve, stone, peel and slice the avocado, then mash it with the lime or lemon juice and a little seasoning.
• Make the tortillas as before, adding a little chopped coriander. Serve two each and cut into halves rather than quarters. Serve with the guacamole and soured cream, scattered with a little more coriander.

MEXICAN TORTILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.
• Spray a spring form cake pan or casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Brown ground beef and onion and then drain the grease.
• Add taco seasonings and cook according to package directions. Heat refried beans to make for easier spreading.
• Lay 1 tortilla in bottom of baking dish and spread 1/3 of the refried beans on it. Top with 1/3 of the meat and sprinkle on some cheese.
• Add the 2nd tortilla and spread 1/2 the rice, 1/2 salsa, 1/2 the corn and a little cheese.
• Add the 3rd tortilla and spread 1/3 beans ,1/3meat, and a little cheese.
• Add the 4th tortilla and layer the remaining beans ,meat, corn, rice, salsa and cheese.
• Bake, covered with foil, for about 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer. Let sit 5 minutes before cutting.
• After baking, top with sour cream, diced white onion and shredded lettuce, if desired.

TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, vegetable oil and salt in a bowl. Pour over 150ml warm water and knead to bring the mixture together. Remove from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured work surface for around 5 mins until you make a soft, smooth ball of dough. Cover with a clean tea towel and rest for at least 15 mins before rolling out.
• Cut the dough into 6 equal pieces (about 75g each). Roll out each ball of dough as thinly as possible on a floured work surface. They should make rounds about 20 cm wide, 2mm thick.
• Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Cook the tortillas for 1-2 mins on each side until golden brown and toasted. Wrap them in foil and cover in a tea towel to keep warm, while you cook the rest. Keeps for two days well wrapped, or cool, wrap and freeze for up to three months.