Winter Squash And Short Rib Enchiladas Food

WINTER SQUASH AND SHORT-RIB ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• For the sauce and filling:
• Toast coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium heat, swirling pan often and adding cumin seeds during the last 30 seconds of cooking, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then finely grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle.
• Bring guajillo, ancho, and morita chiles and 4 cups stock to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes to let chiles soften.
• Transfer chile mixture to a blender and add toasted spices, garlic, tomato paste, and oregano and purée until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 250°F. Place squash, cut side down, in a 13x9" baking dish and bake until very tender, 2-2 1/2 hours. Let cool slightly, then remove skin and discard.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium heavy pot over medium-high. Season beef with salt and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 10-12 minutes. Pour off excess oil and carefully add chile purée (it may bubble vigorously) and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, cover, and transfer to oven, next to squash. Braise beef until it shreds easily, 2-2 1/2 hours; season with salt.
• Skim excess fat from chile sauce and transfer meat, leaving bones behind, to a baking sheet. Remove bones and bay leaves from sauce. Let beef cool slightly, then shred with 2 forks, discarding any cartilage or silver skin.
• Blend sauce, 2 cups roasted squash, and remaining 1/2 cup stock in a blender until smooth, about 30 seconds; season with salt. Mix 1/2 cup squash-chile sauce into shredded beef and season with salt. Set remaining sauce aside.
• For the assembly:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high until it bubbles immediately when edge of tortilla touches the surface. Working one at a time, fry tortillas until just starting to brown and crisp, about 10 seconds per side (they should still be somewhat pliable). Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Dip both sides of each tortilla in squash-chile sauce just to coat and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Spread 1 cup sauce down the length of a 13x9" baking dish. Spoon 1/4 cup beef mixture across the center of a tortilla. Fold one side over filling, then continue to roll up tortilla. Place seam side down in prepared baking dish. Repeat with more sauce and remaining tortillas (enchiladas should be nestled right up against each other in pan). Top with cheese and remaining sauce. Bake enchiladas until sauce is bubbling and cheese is beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss pumpkin seeds, marjoram, and mint in a small bowl; season with salt.
• Top enchiladas with onion and pumpkin seed mixture. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.
• Do Ahead
• Short ribs can be braised and squash can be roasted 3 days ahead. Let meat cool in chile sauce (do not shred); cover and chill ribs and squash separately.

CHICKEN ENCHILADA-STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the squash halves in a large microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 cup water; cover loosely with plastic wrap. Microwave until fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and poblano and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 3 minutes. Add the enchilada sauce and chicken. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce slightly thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the acorn squash cut-sides up in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Divide the chicken filling evenly among the squash halves and top with the cheese. Bake until the cheese is lightly golden and melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Top with sour cream and more cilantro.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the squash, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin, the salt and several grinds of pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, tossing once, until browned and tender, but not falling apart, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the black beans and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin and chili powder. Cook until the beans are heated through and well combined, about 2 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside on a plate. Pour the enchilada sauce into the skillet, then reduce the heat to low and warm through.
• One at a time, hold the tortillas over a stovetop burner set on a medium heat to brown slightly, about 30 seconds per side. Set aside.
• Pour 2 cups of the enchilada sauce into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. To assemble the enchiladas, dip a tortilla into the remaining sauce, then lay on a plate. Sprinkle some cheese down the middle, followed by some of the bean mixture and finally some of the roasted squash. Roll it up tightly, then place seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. If you have any extra pieces of squash or the bean mixture, tuck them in between the enchiladas. Be sure to save a little cheese for the topping!
• Pour the rest of the sauce over the enchiladas, then top with the remaining cheese. Add a final sprinkling of chili powder, then bake until hot and bubbly, 20 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Top with the cilantro.