4 Ways to Enjoy the Whole Enchilada

First created as a Mexican street food, enchiladas consist of a filled tortilla topped with a chili pepper sauce. There are countless ways to build on that basic formula, and anyone taking cooking lessons should try making a few on their own. By experimenting with a few simple recipes, you may find your own favorite approach to enchiladas.

1. Packed with pork and cheese
If you love both pork and Monterey Jack cheese, the recipe presented by the Food Network’s Patrick and Gina Neely may be perfect for you. Start by seasoning chunks of pork butt with chili powder, salt, oregano and pepper. Place the meat in a Dutch oven with chicken broth, salsa verde, garlic and onions. Bring to a simmer on the stovetop before moving to an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

After about an hour and 45 minutes, the pork should be tender. Combine sour cream and salsa, and dip some warm tortillas in the mixture. Then, fill the tortillas with the meat and cheese. Coat the bottom of a casserole dish with the salsa mixture and lay the enchiladas on top, pouring on more sauce and cheese. After baking for half an hour at 350 degrees, the enchiladas will be ready to enjoy.

2. Here’s the beef
Enchiladas filled with beef are another classic option. Damn Delicious recommended making the filing by browning ground beef, seasoning the meat with salt and pepper and accompanying it with green chilies. Then, mix the beef with corn, black beans, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. After baking, garnish the final final product with tomato, cilantro and avocado.

Rotisserie chicken can be the beginning of a great enchilada.

3. Dig into chicken and cream
Chicken enchiladas are especially fantastic with some cream and salsa verde. That’s the approach Bon Appetit took for a recipe that starts with making your own sauce. Roast a poblano, two chiles, tomatillos and onions in olive oil for 35 to 40 minutes. Then, remove the skin from the poblano. Blend the peppers and onion with chicken stock, cilantro, serrano peppers, garlic, and lime juice. Toss shredded pieces of rotisserie chicken with the sauce, plus coriander and red pepper flakes.

4. Skip the meat
Of course, you don’t need meat to prepare great enchiladas. As Real Simple demonstrated, you can instead opt for spinach enchiladas. Make the filling by combining the spinach with corn, cheddar and chilies. Then, mix heavy cream with more chilies, salt and pepper. Place the filling in each tortilla with sauce and cheddar.

For anyone learning to cook, there’s no end to the ways you can customize enchiladas. Find your favorite variety and explore different choices for fillings and toppings.