Zachs Alotta Southwestern Enchiladas Recipes

ICE CREAM ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Carefully fold each crepe into quarters and trim with kitchen shears so the folded sides are about 4 inches long - this will give you 8-inch crêpes.
• Cut the carton off the ice cream. Lay the ice cream block on its side and cut into 3/4-inch-thick slabs. Cut each slab in half lengthwise to make 6 to 8 rectangles. If the ice cream is getting too soft, return to the freezer until firm.
• Working quickly, place a rectangle of ice cream in the middle of each crepe, then wrap the crepe around the ice cream. Arrange in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the candy melts in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring. Pour into a foil muffin liner set on a plate. Refrigerate until set, 30 minutes.
• Whisk the strawberry spread in a small bowl until smooth. Add a few drops of red food coloring and whisk to combine.
• Using a vegetable peeler, shave the white chocolate onto a sheet of parchment. If the chocolate is hard to shave, warm it up slightly with the palm of your hand.
• Remove the orange candy from the muffin liner. Shave the orange candy onto the parchment.
• Spoon the strawberry spread over the ice cream enchiladas and around the edge of the pan.
• Sprinkle with the white and orange shavings, then top with chopped mint.

VENISON ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet until almost smoking. Carefully add venison meat, chopped onion and chopped garlic, season with salt and pepper and brown the meat, stirring occasionally. Add chili powder, brown sugar and cilantro. Deglaze this with the chicken stock. Removed from heat and allow to cool. Stir in 3 cups of the shredded cheese.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Soften 12 corn tortillas in a microwave oven, wrapped in a damp cloth for 10 to 20 seconds on high, until soft and pliable. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of venison mix into center of tortilla and roll. Place rolled enchiladas into a lightly oiled baking dish, seam side down. Smother with enchilada sauce and sprinkle remaining colby-jack cheese, to taste. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
• Flame-roast bell pepper until skin is blistered, place in a bowl and wrap with plastic. Allow to cool, then peel, seed, and chop. In a heavy bottom skillet, heat canola oil. Saute onion, bell pepper, and garlic until onions are lightly caramelized. Add tortillas torn into pieces. Add chili powder, cumin, cocoa powder, pepper and salt to release oils in the spices, about 1 minute using care not to burn the spices.
• Add chicken stock, coffee and orange juice concentrate. Add chocolate, chopped into pieces. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 45 minutes. Remove from heat, carefully blend smooth in a processor or blender in batches (sauce should be smooth but still thick). When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth. Adjust the consistency with additional chicken stock if necessary.

BEEF ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Chop the cooked flank steak to a fine dice. Saute chopped flank steak in a little oil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through. Add cilantro and onion and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Combine the 1 cup of the Monterey jack and 1 cup of the Cheddar and mix well. Add cheese to steak mixture. Stir well and reserve, covered.
• In another saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Fry tortillas, one at a time, just until soft, about 10 seconds. Pat tortillas dry on paper towels. Portion out beef mixture evenly among the 16 tortillas and roll up. Place enchiladas on a baking sheet or in 1or 2 rectangular casserole dishes.
• Cover enchiladas with Cilantro Cream Sauce and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until cheese melts and sauce is bubbling.
• Blanch cilantro in boiling water for 30 seconds and puree in blender with jalapeno. In a saucepan reduce heavy cream by half. Stir in cilantro-jalapeno puree and cumin. Adjust with salt and pepper.

ITALIAN ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Melt the margarine in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, jalapenos, garlic, and seasoned salt and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool a bit, then mix in the spinach, bread crumbs, and cheeses. While still warm, put a couple of tablespoons of the mixture in each tortilla and roll up (it should be approximately 1-inch in diameter). To serve, cut tortillas in 3-inch sections, reheat in the microwave, and top with Alfredo or marinara sauce.

BEEF ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• For the filling: In large pot, cook ground beef, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder and cilantro over medium heat until beef is browned all the way through.
• For the gravy: In a large pot on low heat, add flour and vegetable oil. Cook, stirring often, for 30 minutes, to make a dark brown roux for the gravy. Add 1/4 cup water, the beef bouillon, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper and salt. Continue to cook until you have the consistency for the gravy, another 5 minutes.
• For the enchiladas: Heat a griddle or grill on medium heat. Spray cooking spray or put oil on griddle. Place tortillas on griddle until pliable for folding, about 15 seconds.
• Place tortillas on a flat surface. Add meat to a tortilla and roll up, keeping the seam side down. Place on a microwave/oven-safe plate. Repeat until all tortillas are used.
• Spoon gravy over enchiladas until covered. Top with Cheddar and place in microwave or oven until cheese melts. Top with onions, if using.

SOUTHWEST ENCHILADA BAKE

Steps:

• Cut tortillas into eighths; set aside. In a Dutch oven, cook the beef, onions and jalapeno over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the black-eyed peas, soups, tomatoes, enchilada sauce and pepper sauce; heat through., Spread 2-2/3 cups meat mixture into each of two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Top each with 2 cups cut tortillas. Repeat layers. Top with remaining meat mixture; sprinkle with cheese., Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting., To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.