How to Make Mouthwatering Chilaquiles Verde

If you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine, then you’ve probably heard of chilaquiles. These delicious and hearty breakfast dishes are typically made with tortilla chips that are smothered in either a red or green sauce, and topped with cheese, beans, eggs, and various toppings. Today, we’ll be focusing on chilaquiles verde, which translates to “green chilaquiles”. This dish is made with a bright and flavorful green sauce that’s made from tomatillos, jalapeños, and cilantro, among other ingredients. So, whether you’re looking to start your day with a wholesome meal, or looking to impress friends and family with your culinary skills, let’s dive in and learn how to make chilaquiles verde!

To make chilaquiles verde, you’ll need to start by making the green sauce. This can be done using either fresh or canned tomatillos, and can be adjusted based on your spice level preference. The sauce is then simmered with garlic and onions, before being blended together with cilantro and lime juice, resulting in a tangy and herbaceous sauce. Once the sauce is ready, you’ll then fry up some tortilla chips until they’re nice and crispy, before adding them to the sauce and mixing everything together. Finally, the dish is topped with crumbled queso fresco, sliced radishes, avocado, and a fried egg, making for a filling and satisfying breakfast dish. So, grab your apron and let’s get cooking!

Gather the Ingredients

Chilaquiles verde is a popular Mexican dish that has gained a lot of popularity in the United States. This dish is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. Here are the ingredients you need to make chilaquiles verde:

1. Tortilla chips: You can use store-bought or homemade tortilla chips. If you decide to make your own, cut fresh corn tortillas into quarters and fry them until crispy.

2. Salsa verde: Salsa verde is a green sauce made from tomatillos, jalapenos, onions, and cilantro. You can find it in most grocery stores or make your own by blending these ingredients together.

3. Chicken: You can use leftover chicken or cook chicken breast specifically for this dish. Boil the chicken for 15-20 minutes until it’s tender, then shred the meat.

4. Cheese: Mexican cheese, such as queso fresco or cotija, is commonly used in this dish. You can also use shredded cheddar cheese.

5. Sour cream: Sour cream is used as a garnish and to add creaminess to the dish.

6. Red onion: Red onions add a pop of color and flavor to the dish.

7. Cilantro: Cilantro is used as a garnish and to add freshness to the dish.

8. Avocado: Avocado is optional, but it adds creaminess and flavor to the dish.

9. Lime: Limes are used to squeeze over the dish for additional flavor.

10. Salt: Add salt to taste.

Prepare the Tortilla Chips

The first step in making chilaquiles verde is to prepare the tortilla chips. If you’re using store-bought tortilla chips, skip this step. If you’re making your own, cut fresh corn tortillas into quarters and fry them until crispy. Then, remove them from the frying oil and place them on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.

Prepare the Salsa Verde

The next step is to prepare the salsa verde. You can find salsa verde in most grocery stores, but if you want to make your own, it’s easy to do. Start by husking and washing 1 pound of tomatillos, then cut them in half. Peel and slice 2 jalapenos, and chop 1 onion and 1/2 cup of cilantro. Add these ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add a little bit of water.

Cook the Chicken

If you’re using leftover chicken, skip this step. If you’re cooking chicken breast specifically for this dish, boil it for 15-20 minutes until it’s tender. Then, shred the chicken into small pieces.

Incorporate the Ingredients

Once you have all the ingredients ready, it’s time to put them together. In a large skillet, heat the salsa verde on medium heat until it starts to boil. Then, add the tortilla chips and cook them for 2-3 minutes until they are soft. Add the shredded chicken and mix it well with the tortilla chips and salsa verde. If you see that the mixture is too dry, add a little bit of water.

Add the Cheese

Once everything is mixed together, add the cheese to the skillet and mix it well. The cheese should start to melt and become gooey, making the dish even more delicious.

Serve and Garnish

Once the cheese has melted, turn off the heat and serve the chilaquiles verde on a plate. Garnish with sour cream, sliced red onion, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve immediately.

Optional Ingredients

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, there are a few optional ingredients you can add to the dish to give it a unique twist. Here are a few ideas:

1. Chorizo: Cook chorizo and add it to the skillet with the tortilla chips.

2. Black beans: Drain and rinse a can of black beans and add them to the skillet with the tortilla chips.

3. Fried egg: Fry an egg and add it on top of the chilaquiles verde before serving.

Conclusion

Chilaquiles verde is a delicious and easy-to-make Mexican dish that is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It requires only a few ingredients and can be customized to your liking. Follow these steps to make your own chilaquiles verde and impress your friends and family with your cooking skills.

Ingredients for Chilaquiles Verde

Once you understand what chilaquiles verdes are, it’s time to dive into the recipe and start gathering the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Corn Tortillas
When it comes to making chilaquiles, you can’t use just any tortilla. You need to use high-quality corn tortillas, preferably ones made from scratch. Alternatively, you can find them at your local grocery store.

2. Tomatillos
This small green fruit is essential to making chilaquiles verde. You’ll need tomatillos for the sauce, which gives the dish its signature verde color.

3. Serrano Peppers
Serrano peppers are known for their spiciness and are commonly used in Mexican cuisine. They’re a perfect addition to the tomatillo sauce and give the dish a nice kick.

4. Garlic
Garlic is used in almost every dish in Mexican cuisine. It’s no exception for chilaquiles verde. You’ll need to use fresh garlic to make this dish taste aromatic and flavorful.

5. Onion
Onions are used to add depth to the flavor of the sauce. You’ll also use onions as a garnish for the finished dish.

6. Cilantro
Cilantro is a key ingredient in Mexican cuisine, and it adds a fresh, leafy taste to the dish. You can use it in the sauce or as a garnish.

7. Avocado
Adding avocado slices to your chilaquiles verde is a great way to cool down the spiciness of the dish. It also adds a creamy texture.

8. Queso Fresco
Queso fresco is a crumbly Mexican cheese that’s perfect for topping your chilaquiles verde. It has a mild, slightly salty flavor that complements the dish.

9. Chicken or Beef
You can add some protein to your chilaquiles verde by using chicken or beef. Either one works well and will add a delicious flavor to the dish.

10. Vegetable Oil
You’ll need to use vegetable oil to fry the tortillas. It’s important to use a neutral oil that won’t overpower the other ingredients in the dish.

By gathering these ingredients, you’re already halfway there to making a delicious batch of chilaquiles verde. In the next section, we’ll go over the step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the dish.

Ingredients Needed to Make Chilaquiles Verde

When it comes to making chilaquiles verde, you need to ensure that you have all the necessary ingredients to create the best possible dish. Here are a few ingredients that you will require:

Now that you have all the ingredients that you need to make the best chilaquiles verde, it is time to get cooking. Here is how you can put everything together:

Step 1: Roast the Tomatillos and Jalapeno

You will need to cut the tomatillos in half and remove their husks. Whatever the specific recipe indicates, you will need to roast the tomatillos together with the jalapenos in a broiler or by using a grill. Once it is done, set aside and let it cool.

Step 2: Cook the Onion and Garlic

Take a medium-sized pan, pour some oil, toss in some garlic and onions, and cook until they become tender and aromatic. This is an essential step that will help flavor the dish.

Step 3: Make the Salsa Verde

Once the tomatillos and jalapenos cool down, put them in a blender with the cilantro, salt, chicken broth, avocado, garlic, and onions. Blend all the ingredients until you get a smooth consistency.

Step 4: Fry the Tortilla Chips

Take another pan, heat up some oil, and fry the tortilla chips until they are crispy. Drain the oil and set them aside.

Step 5: Simmer the Salsa Verde and Tortilla Chips

Put the salsa verde in another pan, and let it simmer over medium heat. Once it comes to a boil, toss in the fried tortilla chips. Stir everything until the chips are covered with the salsa mixture. You should be able to find some of the chips still crunchy and some of them slightly soft.

Step 6: Add the Cotija Cheese and Garnish

Once the tortilla chips have absorbed the salsa verde, sprinkle some cotija cheese over the dish and put it in an oven. Bake the dish for about 3-5 minutes until the cheese has melted. Now, your delicious chilaquiles verde are ready to be served! Add some garnish like cilantro, sliced onions, or avocado slices to give the dish more color and texture.

In conclusion, these simple steps can help you cook the best chilaquiles verde in the comfort of your own home. With these ingredients and steps in hand, you can add some versatility, flavor, and coloring to your morning or afternoon meals.

Time to Dig In!

And that’s it! You now know how to make delicious chilaquiles verde that will make your taste buds dance. So, thank you for reading and joining me on this culinary journey. I hope this recipe adds some spice to your day. Remember to come back and visit again for more tasty recipes, and don’t forget to tell your family and friends about it. Buen provecho!