Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chile Sauce

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In New Mexico, enchiladas can be rolled or flat and stacked, made with yellow or blue corn tortillas, filled with any number of ingredients, and smothered in chile sauce. After you decide to order enchiladas here, there are still decisions to be made. First, blue or regular referring to the type of tortilla, rolled or stacked, red or green chile sauce and, if you can’t decide and want both sauces, order “Christmas.” And finally you may order them with a fried egg on top, which is true New Mexican fare.

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts

  • 2 small onions, chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 whole cloves

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 1/4 cup black olives, chopped

  • 2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

  • Vegetable oil for frying

  • 8 corn tortillas

  • 2 cups Green Chile Sauce 

  • Chopped fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and sour cream for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large pot, cover the chicken, ½ of the onions, garlic, and cloves with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove the chicken. Strain and reserve the broth for use in the sauce. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and bones, and shred.

To assemble: Place a little of the sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. To soften the tortillas, pour the oil in a pan to a depth of about a 1/4-inch and heat until hot enough so that a drop of water in the oil will sputter. Dip a tortilla briefly in hot oil to soften, remove and drain. Next dip the tortilla in the sauce and place on the baking pan. Place some of the chicken down the center of the tortilla, top with some chopped onions, sour cream, olives, and cheese over the chicken, and roll. Ending with the flap side down in the pan.

Pour additional sauce over the enchiladas and bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Garnish with the lettuce and tomatoes, and top with a dollop of sour cream.

New Mexican Green Chile Sauce

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This versatile sauce is basic to New Mexican cuisine. It is best with freshly roasted and peeled chile but can be made with canned, frozen or even dried green chile. Finely diced pork can be added but cook the sauce for an additional half hour. Use this sauce over enchiladas, burritos, or tacos. It will keep for about 5 days in the refrigerator and freezes well.

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 2 to 3 cups homemade chicken stock

  • 1 cup chopped green New Mexico chile, roasted, peeled, stems removed

  • 1 small tomato, peeled and chopped

Instructions

Saute the onion and garlic in the oil until soft. Stir in the flour and blend well. Simmer for a couple of minutes to “cook” the flour. Slowly add the broth and stir until smooth.

Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 15 minutes.

Green Chile Pesto

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This Southwestern adaptation of the Italian specialty uses green chile and spinach in place of the traditional basil in the pesto. It has a very concentrated flavor—as do all pestos, so a little bit goes a long way. This pasta topper is also good on grilled meats or fish, burgers, and sandwiches.

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups chopped fresh spinach

  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

  • 6 green New Mexican chiles, roasted, peeled, stems and seeds removed

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1/4 to ½ cup vegetable oil

Instructions

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Put the spinach, cilantro, and basil in a food processor or blender and pulse to finely chop. Add the chiles, garlic, pinons, lime juice and continue to pulse. With the machine running, slowly add just enough of the oil to make a smooth sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

Grilled Green Chile Cheese Tamales with Avocado Cream

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Oh no, not a grilled tamale! But it works–if you can keep the corn husks from burning. And for that, be armed with a spray bottle filled with water. These tamales can be served as an entree or as a side dish. You can tie the tamales together with string or with a thin strip of corn husk. Serve with Mexican rice, squash with tomatoes and green chile, and flan for dessert.

Ingredients

For the Tamales:

  • 15 dried corn husks

  • ½ cup cornmeal

  • 1/3 cup milk

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 tablespoon instant masa mix

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ½ cup whole kernel corn

For the Green Chile Cheese Filling:

  • 6 to 8 green New Mexican chiles, roasted, peeled, stems and seeds removed, cut in strips

  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onions

  • 6 ounces asadero cheese, coarsely grated or substitute Monterey Jack cheese

  • 1/3 cup chopped black olives

  • Avocado Cream

  • 2 medium avocados, peeled and chopped

  • 2 jalapeño chiles, stems and seeds removed, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons chopped onions

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

To Finish

  • Sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

For the Tamales:

Place the corn husks in water in a large bowl, weigh down with a plate and soak for 30 minutes or until soft.

Combine the cornmeal, milk, butter, masa, sugar and salt in a saucepan and simmer for a couple of minutes. Cool and add the corn.

Drain the husks, pat dry with paper towels, and lay on a flat surface. Place two together, overlapping a little. Spread some of the cornmeal mixture on a husk, cover with chile strips, then onions, olives, and cheese. Place another layer of the cornmeal on top, pull the husks over the top and tie at both ends. Repeat until you have 6 packets.

Arrange the tamales around the edge of a high heat grill. Cook until the filling sets, turning occasionally, spraying with water to keep the husks from burning. 45 to 60 minutes.

For the Green Chile Cheese Filling:

Place all the ingredients for the avocado cream in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth

To serve, slice open the tamale, spoon in the avocado cream, top with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with the cilantro.

 

Green Chile Pasta

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Green chile pasta has been popular in the Southwest for many years. It is surprisingly easy to make, and even easier to eat. Just remember that if you are using fresh or canned green chiles, it is necessary to remove all of the liquid, or the excess liquid will interfere with the water measurement.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup drained green chile finely minced or processed in food processor to a paste consistency
    or
    3 tablespoons green chile powder

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

Using a small, heavy skillet, dry saute the green chile over a low heat until the moisture has evaporated. Allow the chile to cool before it is added to the remaining ingredients.

Place all of the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor and process until the mixture begins to form a ball, adding more water drop by drop if the dough is too dry. The dough should be firm, but not sticky. Blend the dough for 15 seconds more to knead it.

Roll out the dough until it is very thin. Cut the dough into the desired shape. Separate the dough, allow it to dry, and cook it in boiling, salted water for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the pasta and serve it with your favorite sauce.