ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

 

 

 

Cooks may vary the specific ingredients they use according

to personal preference, but nearly all chicken enchilada

casseroles include soft tortillas, chicken, shredded cheese,

 and enchilada sauce. Other ingredients often found in

traditional enchiladas, including bell peppers, rice,

refried beans, and onions, are commonly found in the

 casserole version, as well.

 

 

 

Casseroles, in general, are one-dish meals that combine

 main dish and side dish ingredients into a single pan.

This results in a type of "all in one" meal that serves as

 a well-balanced dinner without requiring any additional

 sides. Most casseroles are baked in the oven, but

some are cooked on the stove. A chicken enchilada

 casserole is usually baked in the oven

 

 

While different cooks have different recipes, a chicken

 enchilada casserole must include standard enchilada

 ingredients in order to have the general taste of a chicken

 enchilada. A traditional enchilada consists of a corn

tortilla wrapped around shredded meat, beans, cheese,

 and various chopped vegetables. Enchiladas are also

 covered with a mild red chili sauce specifically referred to

as an "enchilada sauce." The term enchilada comes from

 the Spanish verb enchilar, which roughly means "to

 season with chili pepper," making this sauce the key

ingredient of an enchilada recipe. Garnishments may also

 include additional cheese, lettuce, onions, sour cream,

 and fresh cilantro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A layer of flat corn tortillas is laid on the bottom of the

 casserole dish. The cook then spreads a layer of partially

 or fully cooked chicken, either in the form of shredded

 chicken or chicken strips, over the tortillas. A mixture

consisting of finely chopped vegetables, shredded cheese,

 and various herbs and spices is spooned over the chicken.

The cook generally repeats these layers once or twice, and

often tops the casserole with an extra tortilla layer before

baking it in a preheated oven.

 

 

Some cooks may call a recipe a chicken enchilada

casserole without actually including the chili sauce that

 characterizes an enchilada. A more authentic chicken

enchilada casserole will include enchilada sauce, but

some cooks may mix the sauce into the filling ingredients

 while others may spread it over the final tortilla layer.

 

 

 

 

Casserole versions of the chicken enchilada do not often

include as broad a range of garnishments as traditional

versions of the dish, but additional melted cheese, sour

 cream, and chopped cilantro are still common. After coming

out of the oven, the casserole is cut into square servings

 that must be eaten with a knife and fork.

 

 

 

"This is a layered casserole that is always a favorite

 with my husband and kids.

 

 

 

 

Served with Spanish rice

and a green salad, it is sure to please everyone."

 

 

Enchilada casserole is a popular dish of Mexican

 cuisine basically referring t

 

 

o an oven-baked tortillas,

 coated with spicy sauce. The filling usually consists

 of a meat mix, where the meat used to prepare the

casserole may vary from one recipe to the other.

However, the traditional Mexican variant makes use of

chicken as the meat product, as chicken is one of the

 featured meat products in Mexican cuisine

 

 

 Apart from the most popular way of preparing the casserole

with stuffed tortillas, layered enchilada casseroles, which

 consist of alternate layers of tortillas, meat based sauce,

 and cheese, are also quite common. Further, the vegan

 version of the casserole is also available, which makes

 use of vegetable; mix in place of meat mix.

 

The meat used in the casserole may consist of chicken,

 fish, pork, beef or turkey. Further, the meat may be in the

 form of shredded, bite sized bits, or ground form, and

may be cooked by grilled, fried, baked, or sautéed method.

 A variety of ingredients may be combined with meat to

make the dish highly versatile.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine the beans, garlic, onion, chile
2.  peppers, jalapeno pepper, and tempeh. Pour enchilada
3. sauce into a shallow bowl.

1. Dip three tortillas in the enchilada sauce, and place
2.  them in the prepared baking dish. Be sure to cover
3.  the bottom of the dish as completely as possible.
4. Place 1/2 of the bean mixture on top of the tortillas,
5.  and repeat. Drizzle the remaining sauce over the
6. casserole, and sprinkle with olives and shredded cheese.
9. Cover, and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue
10.  baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the
11. casserole is bubbling and the cheese is melted.