Generous Potluck Enchiladas Verdes Recipes

ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Cover a large griddle with aluminum foil and preheat to medium-high.
• Cook the garlic, serrano peppers, and tomatillos on the hot griddle until toasted and blackened, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes for the garlic, 10 minutes for the peppers, and 15 minutes for the tomatillos. Remove to a bowl and allow to cool.
• Heat oil in a small, deep skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Using kitchen tongs, fry the tortillas individually, turning them once. They shouldn't be in the hot oil for more than 5 seconds per side. Remove excess oil with paper towels and keep warm. Remember that the hotter the oil, the less that the tortillas will absorb.
• Place the toasted garlic, serrano peppers, tomatillos, and the water in a blender and blend until smooth; pour into a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Dissolve the chicken bouillon into the mixture, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. The sauce shouldn't be too thick.
• Soak three tortillas in the sauce, one at a time, for a few seconds, fill them with shredded chicken, sprinkle the meat with some of the sauce, roll them and place them seam side down on a pasta bowl. Spoon a generous amount of sauce over them and top them with lettuce, cilantro, crema, and cotija cheese. Pour a little more sauce over the whole thing if desired. Repeat the procedure twice more. Serve immediately.

AUTHENTIC ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine chicken breast with chicken broth, one quarter onion, a clove of garlic, and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, and then boil for 20 minutes. Reserve broth, set chicken aside to cool, and discard onion and garlic. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken with your hands.
• Place tomatillos and serrano chiles in a pot with water, enough to cover them. Bring to boil, and continue boiling until tomatillos turn a different shade of green (from bright green to a dull, army green). Strain tomatillos and chiles, and place in a blender with another quarter piece of onion, 1 clove garlic, and a pinch of salt. Pour in reserved chicken broth, so that liquid just covers the veggies in the blender by about an inch. Blend all ingredients until they are completely pureed. Pour salsa in a medium saucepan, and bring to a low boil.
• Pour oil in a frying pan, and allow to get very hot. Slightly fry tortillas one by one in hot oil, setting each on a paper towel afterwards to soak some of the oil. Finally, dip slightly fried tortillas in low-boiling green salsa, until tortillas become soft again. Place on plates, 3 per person.
• Fill or top tortillas with shredded chicken, then extra green sauce. Top with crumbled cheese, chopped onion, and chopped cilantro.

GENEROUS POTLUCK ENCHILADAS VERDES

Steps:

• Boil chicken. Save the broth and use it to cook 1-1/2 cups rice to make 3 cups total cooked rice. Shred chicken.
• In a large skillet, sauté onions and peppers in oil until soft; set aside.
• In large bowl, mix rice, chicken, 1-1/2 cups of the cheese, and ½ cup of the green enchilada sauce (save the rest to pour over at the end).
• Use a large rectangular casserole dish, a minimum of 13 by 9 inches, or use two dishes. Barely coat bottom of casserole dish with enchilada sauce. Divide chicken rice mixture into 9 portions, and roll up one portion in each flour tortilla. Stack rolled tortillas close together in dish(es).
• Carefully pour enchilada sauce over rolled-up tortillas, separating them so that all the sauce penetrates between the tortillas to the bottom of the dish.
• Scatter sautéed onions and peppers over the casserole.
• Sprinkle remaining cheese over casserole.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40-50 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and casserole is heated through.
• Before serving, cut the enchiladas down the middle. They are large enough that one enchilada will feed two people (unless you've got a really hungry person!).