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Main Course:
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Whether you use beef, chicken, or cheese ...
... an enchilada is basically a stuffed corn tortilla baked in the oven with a zesty sauce and melted cheese.
What is a beef enchilada?
A traditional Mexican food, enchilada literally means "seasoned with chili pepper".
Traditional authentic enchilada sauce is made from dried red chile peppers soaked or ground into a sauce with other spices.
Red enchilada sauce is usually made with tomatoes and red chile peppers, while green enchilada sauce is usually made with tomatillos (green tomatoes) and green chili peppers.
What's the traditional method?
The enchilada is typically made with a corn tortilla which is fried briefly in hot lard or oil to soften it, and then dipped in enchilada sauce.
The tortillas are filled with any of dozens of possible ingredients and rolled up, placed in a casserole, and covered with more enchilada sauce, cheese, and onions.
Enchiladas can be filled with dozens of things depending on the cook's taste and imagination. While beef enchiladas are very popular, chicken and cheese enchiladas as well as vegetables, seafood or eggs may also be found in homes and restaurants.
Note: Vegetarians can substitute cheese enchiladas for the beef enchiladas as the main course.
Homestyle Beef Enchiladas
Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef* or try this enchilada sauce recipe. It goes well with either cheese or beef enchiladas.
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 10 oz cans enchilada sauce *
8 small corn tortillas (6-7 inches diameter)
¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
sour cream (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a large non-stick skillet, brown ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Pour off grease.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in ½ cup enchilada sauce from one can. Set aside remaining sauce from that can.
Pour the second can of enchilada sauce into a shallow dish. Dip tortillas, one at a time, into sauce to coat both sides. Spoon beef mixture evenly down the center of each tortilla and roll up. Place beef enchiladas seam-side down in a 13x9-inch baking dish.
Cover dish and bake in oven for 15 minutes.
Uncover enchiladas. Spoon reserved enchilada sauce over beef enchiladas. Sprinkle with the cheese. Continue baking uncovered for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle liberally with cilantro. Serve with sour cream (optional).
The rest of the quick and easy
3-course meal is here:
Appetizer - Quick and Easy Guacamole
Dessert - Quintessential FlanNote: Vegetarians can substitute cheese enchiladas for the beef enchiladas as the main course.
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