Dive into the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine with our comprehensive guide to creating tantalizing chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, also known as enchiladas verdes. This traditional dish combines succulent chicken, tangy tomatillo sauce, and an array of Mexican spices, wrapped in soft corn tortillas and smothered with melted cheese. Unveiling the secrets behind the perfect balance of flavors, textures, and colors, this article will take you on a culinary journey through Mexico's culinary heritage. From selecting the freshest ingredients and mastering the art of making homemade tomatillo sauce to assembling and baking the enchiladas, we'll provide step-by-step instructions, tips, and variations to help you create an authentic and delicious dish that will transport your taste buds to the heart of Mexico.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH TOMATILLO SAUCE
Light and fresh chicken enchiladas filled with tender, smoky chicken and cheddar cheese in a tangy tomatillo sauce.
Provided by Jennifer Segal, inspired by a recipe in Cook's Illustrated
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatillos, jalapeños, sugar, salt, cumin and ⅓ cup water; bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until tomatillos are softened, about 8 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender and purée until completely smooth. Set aside.
- Place the chicken tenderloins in a medium bowl and sprinkle with the cumin, smoked paprika and salt. Toss with tongs until the chicken is evenly coated with the spice blend.
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick sauté pan until shimmering but not smoking. Add the chicken and cook until just done, about 2 minutes per side; transfer to a plate to cool. Do not rinse the pan. Add the onions and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it into bite-sized pieces. (All tenderloins have a tough tendon running through them; just remove it.) Add the shredded chicken to the pan with the onions, along with the chopped cilantro and shredded cheese.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Spread ¾ cup of the tomatillo sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Pour the oil into a small bowl or ramekin. Using a pastry brush (or your hands), brush both sides of each tortilla with oil, then stack them on a plate and microwave until hot and steamy, 1½ - 2 minutes. This makes them pliable.
- Spoon about ⅓ cup of the filling down the center of each tortilla. Roll each tortilla tightly and place side by side in the baking dish, seam side down.
- Pour the remaining chili sauce over the top, and use the back of a spoon to spread evenly over each tortilla. Sprinkle the cheese down the center of the enchiladas. Bake until hot and bubbling, 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle the smoked paprika down the center of the enchiladas and serve immediately with sour cream, lettuce, avocado and lime wedges. (The nutritional information below does not include the sour cream, romaine lettuce or avocado used to top the enchiladas.)
- Note: If you touch the seeds of the jalapeño pepper, just be sure to wash your hands well and avoid touching your eyes.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked enchiladas can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, defrost them in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then reheat, covered in foil, in a 325°F oven until hot.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 2 3/4 enchiladas, Calories 991, Fat 66g, Carbohydrate 61g, Protein 41g, SaturatedFat 18g, UnsaturatedFat 1g, Sugar 9g, Fiber 9g, Sodium 2070mg, Cholesterol 126mg
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH TOMATILLO SAUCE (ENCHILADAS VERDES)
From Goya's "Taste of the Americas: Mexico" booklet, enchiladas (Mexico's comfort food) are made with an authentic green tomatillo sauce. Some changes were made for simplicity or variations.
Provided by ElleFirebrand
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Season chicken with adobo. Place chicken, onion, garlic in saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and let chicken cook in broth. Shred chicken meat, approximately 4 cups. Mix with sour cream.
- Put chilies in saucepan with enough water to cover, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. In batches, puree chilies, tomatillos, garlic, onion and cilantro in blender until smooth.
- In skillet on medium-high heat, heat oil until it starts to smoke. Add tomatillo sauce and cook, stirring constantly. When sauce begins to bubble, lower heat and cook for 5 minutes until noticeably darker and thicker. Season sauce with Adobo. There should be about 3 cups of sauce. If needed, stir in chicken broth.
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Using your fingers, dip each tortilla briefly in sauce, covering both sides. Place on plate, spread on large spoonful of filling and roll up. Place seem side down in baking dish and repeat for each enchilada. Cover with remaining sauce, cover with foil and heat in oven for 10 minutes or until enchiladas are heated through. Top with sour cream, onions and cheese. Serve immediately.
CREAMY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS VERDE
Provided by Food Network
Time 40m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. HEAT oven to 350 degrees F.
- 2. MIX sour cream and salsa until well blended.
- 3. Cook and stir onions and garlic in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 4 to 5 min. or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
- 4. Stir in chicken, 1 cup sour cream mixture, chiles and 1/2 cup cheese .
- 5. SPOON about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla
- 6. Roll up.
- 7. Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Top with remaining tomatillo sauce and cheese. Cover.
- 8. BAKE 15 to 20 min. or until heated through.
- Serving Suggestion:
- Serve with a side of hot cooked rice to round out the meal.
- Special Extra:
- Sprinkle with chopped tomatoes and sliced green onions just before serving.
- Variation:
- Prepare as directed, omitting the oil and substituting 1 lb. extra-lean ground beef for the chicken. Brown meat with onions and garlic; continue as directed.
- How to Shred Cooked Chicken:
- Place cooked chicken on cutting board. Use 2 forks or your fingers to pull meat lengthwise in opposite directions, separating it into long shreds.
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH ROASTED TOMATILLO CHILE SALSA
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- For the salsa:
- On a baking tray, roast tomatillos, onion, garlic and jalapenos for 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the roasted vegetables and any juices on the bottom of the tray to a food processor. Add the cumin, salt, cilantro, and lime juice and pulse mixture until well combined but still chunky.
- For the enchiladas:
- Meanwhile heat a 2 count of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and caramelized - this should take 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin then cook for a further minute. Sprinkle on the flour and stir to ensure the flour doesn't burn then gradually add the chicken stock to make a veloute. Continue stirring over a low simmer until the flour cooks and the liquid thickens. Turn off the heat, add half of the roasted tomatillo chile salsa, some additional fresh chopped cilantro and fold in the shredded chicken meat. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
- Change the temperature of the oven to 350 degrees F and begin assembling the dish. Take a large flameproof baking dish and smear the bottom with some of the reserved tomatillo salsa. Now take the flour tortillas and briefly flash them over the stove-top flame (or put them briefly under the broiler if using an electric stove). Using a shallow bowl, coat each tortilla lightly with the reserved salsa mix. Put a scoop of the shredded chicken-enchilada mix on top of the tortilla followed by a sprinkle of the shredded cheese. Fold the tortilla over the filling and roll like a cigar to enclose it. Using a spatula place the tortillas in the baking dish and continue to do the same with all the tortillas. Finally pour over some more of the salsa and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes until bubbly and cracked on top. Garnish, cilantro and tomato.
- Serve hot with Spicy Black Beans and Yellow Rice, the remaining tomatillo salsa, sour cream and fresh guacamole, if desired.
- In a large pot, soak beans overnight covered in water by 2 inches. Drain and set aside.
- In the same pot, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, jalapeno pepper, garlic, and bay leaf and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the beans and cover with water by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans are tender. Remove the bay leaf and discard. Taste the beans and season with salt and pepper.
- Put all the ingredients into a heavy-bottomed pot, stir well, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook over low heat until the rice has absorbed the water, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Discard the garlic and bay leaf, fluff with a fork, and serve.
SPICY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH TOMATILLO SALSA
Delicious variation of traditional chicken enchiladas. I like to make the tomatillo salsa and tortillas from scratch! We cook up the chicken on the grill for less mess. My hubby's favorite dish!
Provided by chaunce.c
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 1h50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Season chicken with cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
- Place chicken on the preheated grill and cook until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer to a plate and shred using 2 forks.
- Combine tomatillos, serrano peppers, vinegar, water, onion, garlic, and salt in a large pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tomatillos are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and chill in an ice bath until cool, 20 to 30 minutes. Add cilantro and lime juice. Blend salsa thoroughly using an immersion blender.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Mix shredded chicken, cream cheese, 4 ounces Mexican cheese, sour cream, 1/2 cup salsa, onion, and cayenne pepper together in a medium bowl.
- Pour just enough salsa into a 9x13-inch baking pan to thinly cover the bottom. Place a heaping spoonful of filling into each tortilla, roll, and place into the pan. Try to keep them from touching. Top with remaining salsa and Mexican cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 657.4 calories, Carbohydrate 43 g, Cholesterol 133.4 mg, Fat 38.7 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 34.3 g, SaturatedFat 22.4 g, Sodium 969.6 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH GREEN CHILE SAUCE (SALSA VERDE)
Enchiladas made easy! Garnish with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and any of your favorites!
Provided by VMB
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 1h10m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 17
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 374 calories, Carbohydrate 16.7 g, Cholesterol 84.2 mg, Fat 24.8 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 21.2 g, SaturatedFat 11.7 g, Sodium 514.3 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible. Fresh tomatillos, cilantro, and onions will give your enchiladas the best flavor.
- Roast the tomatillos. Roasting the tomatillos will give them a smoky, slightly sweet flavor that will enhance the sauce.
- Make sure the sauce is thick enough. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the enchiladas, but not so thick that it's difficult to spread.
- Use a variety of cheeses. A combination of cheeses, such as mozzarella, cheddar, and queso fresco, will give your enchiladas a rich, flavorful filling.
- Don't overcook the enchiladas. Enchiladas are best when they are cooked just until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are heated through.
Conclusion:
Chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for any occasion. With a few simple tips, you can make sure that your enchiladas are always a hit. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed.
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