CHICKEN CHILAQUILES RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spray the tortillas and toast until golden and crisp. Remove and set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 500 degrees F.
• Char the peppers all over on gas stovetop burner or under the broiler. Place in a bowl, cover and cool to handle. Peel and seed the peppers.
• Dress the tomatillos, garlic and onions with the oil, and roast until charred and tender. Cool slightly and remove the skin from the garlic.
• Process the tomatillos, garlic, onions, poblanos, honey, cumin, cilantro, lime juice and some salt and pepper into fairly smooth sauce/salsa. Taste to adjust seasoning. Add to a pot and stir in the chicken stock, bring to a simmer, stir in the crema and then add the chicken.
• Fill a casserole dish with the crisp tortilla strips and top with half of the cheese. Spread around all of the chicken and creamy sauce, and top with the remaining cheese. Return to the oven and bake the casserole until bubbly brown. Remove and top with sliced red onion rings and more cilantro leaves.
• Place the cleaned chicken in a pot on a bed of bay leaves, carrots, garlic, lemon, onion, celery and parsley. Fill the pot to cover the chicken to the top with about 12 cups water. Sprinkle with salt and throw in a couple of peppercorns. Bring the water to a low boil then gently cook at low rolling simmer for about 1 hour, turning the chicken occasionally. Turn off the heat and allow the chicken to cool completely in its own juices. Remove the chicken and separate the meat from skin and bones. Strain and reserve all of the cooking liquids.

Steps:

• Special equipment: 4 individual casserole dishes
• To make the salsa:
• Preheat the broiler or oven to 550 degrees F.
• Remove husks from the tomatillos and rinse under warm water to remove the stickiness. Put the chiles, garlic, onion and tomatillos on a baking sheet. Season with a little olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste. Put on a rack about 1 or 2 inches from the heat, and cook, turning the vegetables once, until softened and slightly charred, about 5 to 7 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the garlic and pull off the tops of the chiles. Add all the broiled ingredients to a blender along with the fresh cilantro and puree. Pour in 1/4 cup of chicken broth and blend to combine. Add more broth, if needed, for desired consistency.
• To make the chilaquiles:
• Pour about 1/3 cup vegetable oil into a large saute pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the tortillas, working in 2 or 3 batches, and cook until lightly browned and nearly crisp. Drain the tortillas on paper towels and discard the remaining oil. Wipe the pan with a paper towel.
• In the same pan, add the tomatillo salsa and bring to simmer over low heat. Add the tortillas and cook until soft but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide the mixture among 4 individual casserole dishes. Top with the cheese crumbles and onion rings. Drizzle with Mexican crema, sprinkle with some chopped fresh cilantro and serve immediately.
• *Cook's Note: Salsa Verde means "green sauce" and is typically made with tomatillos, green chiles and cilantro. Make your own fresh, or you can also find it canned at most supermarkets.
• Tomatillos are a small green fruit encased in a tissue paper-like husk. They should be used when they are still green, before they are ripe and the husk has turned brown. Before using, remove the husk, rinse and dry the fruit. (They do not need to be seeded.) They are found in most supermarkets
• **Cook's Note: Chilaquiles is a Mexican brunch dish invented to use leftovers. It is made with day old tortillas (cut or torn into chips) and salsa verde. They are cooked together until the tortillas are slightly softened. Chilaquiles are eaten alone or with beans, eggs or shredded chicken.
• ***Cook's Note: Queso fresco is a white, mild, fresh Mexican cheese with the texture of fresh farmer's cheese in the US. Queso fresco can be found in many supermarkets, Latin specialty markets or online. It can be substituted with a mild feta cheese.