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Red Enchiladas

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These authentic red enchiladas feature a homemade guajillo sauce, briefly fried tortillas, and are filled with tender shredded chicken, crema, and cheese for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce
  • 6-8 pieces ripe tomatoes About 2 pounds
  • 5 pieces guajillo chiles Stems removed and seeds shaken out
  • 1-4 pieces Chile de árbol To taste depending on heat preference
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 small piece onion Reserve a piece to fry with sauce and some raw for garnish
  • 1 cube Nort zuisa Or substitute with 1 cup chicken stock + 1/2 tsp bouillon
  • Salt To taste
For the Enchiladas
  • 12-16 pieces corn tortillas Depending on size and servings
  • shredded cooked chicken Rotisserie or poached and shredded
  • Crema For serving
  • crumbled queso Queso fresco or Oaxaca cheese for sprinkling
  • shredded cabbage For crunch and garnish
  • shredded carrot For garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Remove stems from guajillos and árbol chiles. Place the tomatoes and chiles in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes are soft and the guajillos have softened, about 10–12 minutes. Drain.
  2. In a blender, combine the cooked tomatoes and chiles, a piece of onion, the garlic clove, and the Nort zuisa. Blend until smooth.
Cooking the Sauce
  1. Heat 1–2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Pour in the blended sauce, season with salt, and simmer just until it comes to a gentle boil. Taste and adjust salt; then turn off the heat.
Preparing the Tortillas
  1. In another wide skillet, heat enough oil to submerge a tortilla (about 1/2–1 inch deep). Keep it at medium heat.
  2. Important — cool the sauce completely. One at a time, dunk a cold tortilla into the sauce to coat both sides. Transfer the sauced tortilla to the hot oil and fry for a few seconds per side until firm and slightly blistered. Drain on paper towels.
Assembly
  1. Place a little shredded chicken down the center of each tortilla, add cabbage and carrot if using, roll tightly, and arrange seam-side down.
  2. Top with crema, crumbled queso, and finely chopped raw onion. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 20gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 500mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5g

Notes

For a vegetarian version, skip the chicken and stuff with beans and roasted vegetables. Store leftover enchiladas in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, use a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10–15 minutes.
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