Creamy Green Sauce Recipes

CREAMY GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion, jalapeno pepper, and garlic until onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomatillos, avocado, and water to onion mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tomatoes are softened and liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool slightly.
• Blend tomato mixture, sour cream, cilantro, and salt together in a food processor or blender, working in batches if necessary, until sauce is smooth.

ALL-PURPOSE GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Place herbs, garlic and pepper in a food processor or blender, and pulse to combine, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container if necessary.
• Add yogurt and purée until smooth. (This may take a minute or so; scrape down the sides of the container as needed.) With the motor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil. Pulse in lemon zest and salt. Taste and add more salt if needed.
• Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Spoon over grilled or roasted chicken, seafood (especially shrimp and salmon), sausages, steaks, lamb chops and vegetables. Use as a marinade for chicken, lamb or pork; as a dressing for starchy salads with beans, potatoes or grains, or for hearty vegetable salads, like those with cucumbers or blanched and sliced sugar snap peas or green beans. Serve as a dip for crudité or chips. Spread in roast beef, lamb or pork sandwiches.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH CREAMY GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper; place with garlic on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast (avoiding bone) registers 165 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine salsa and cream.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Once chicken is cool enough to handle, shred meat, discarding skin and bones. Peel and chop garlic. In a large bowl, combine chicken, garlic, and 1/2 cup salsa mixture.
• Stack tortillas flat, and wrap in damp paper towels; microwave on high for 1 minute to soften. Working with one tortilla at a time, dip in salsa mixture, lay flat, and fill with 1/3 cup chicken mixture. Roll up and arrange, seam side down, 8 enchiladas lengthwise and 4 crosswise in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with remaining salsa mixture, then cheese.
• Bake until cheese is browned and salsa is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes; let rest 10 minutes. Serve, sprinkled with cilantro, if desired.

GREEN BEANS WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots; cook until deep golden, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain shallots on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet.
• Add green beans, water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to reserved drippings. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, for 2 minutes. Cook, uncovered, until beans are crisp-tender and starting to blister, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes more. Transfer to a platter; keep warm.
• For mushroom sauce, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add mushrooms; cook and stir over medium heat for 1 minute. Add thyme, garlic, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook until mushrooms are golden, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes more. Mix in flour; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Continue cooking and stirring for 2 minutes more.
• Pour mushroom sauce over beans and top with sauteed shallots and crumbled goat cheese.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH CREAMY GREEN CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortillas (1 at a time) for 5 seconds on each side to soften and make them pliable. Add more oil to pan as needed. Drain between layers of paper towel and keep warm.
• Divide chicken, 10 ounces of Monterey Jack cheese, and onion among the 12 tortillas. Roll up each tortilla and place seam-side down in the prepared pan.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until mixture begins to boil. Slowly add broth, stirring with a whisk until thickened. Mix in the sour cream and chiles, heating thoroughly but do not boil, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture over the enchiladas.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and heated through, about 20 minutes. Top with remaining Monterey Jack cheese and bake for 5 more minutes. Garnish with chopped green onions and cilantro.