Rockin Robin’s Raving Enchilada Sauce
makes about 2 cups
•2 cups chicken broth
•4 Tbs Gebhardt Chili Powder
•1 tsp. ground cumin
•2 heaping tsp. garlic powder (with no salt added)
•3/4 tsp. salt
•1 pinch ground cinnamon (less than 1/16 tsp.)
•1/3 tsp. sugar
•5 Tbs. cold water
•5 Tbs. white flour
Directions:
In a 2 quart sauce pan add the chicken broth, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, cinnamon and sugar (the sugar is a little secret to eliminate any bitter taste from the chili powder).
Use a whisk to mix everything well. Heat to a boil, reduce heat to a low boil and cook for 3 minutes.
Whisk frequently to make sure all spices dissolve. This is important for flavor and a nice smooth sauce.
While the sauce is on a slow simmer/boil, add 5 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl.
With another whisk mix 1 tablespoon at a time of flour. Whisk vigorously to avoid lumps. If you have lumps here, you will definitely have lumps in your sauce.
After 3 minutes of cooking sauce, turn the heat up to high. Very slowly, pour the flour mixture into the boiling sauce. Here you must whisk the sauce vigorously while adding the flour to avoid lumps.
After all the flour is added, continue to whisk for one minute. You can turn the heat down to medium during this time. Just make sure the sauce is boiling.
Turn off the heat, this enchilada sauce recipe is done.
You will notice that as this sauce sits it will form a “skin” on the surface. This is normal and in fact the longer the sauce sits the thicker this skin becomes. All you have to do is peel the skin off and throw it away.
As you can see, this enchilada sauce recipe is very quick to make.
So go on, make some cheese enchiladas tonight for dinner.
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
Ingredients:
•1 whole chicken (makes 15 – 18 enchiladas) or
•5-6 thighs (9 – 12 enchiladas)
•Corn tortillas
•vegetable oil
•12 oz. of mild cheddar cheese, grated
•1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
•enchilada sauce
•sour cream optional
•guacamole optional
Personally, I think dark meat makes the chicken enchilada recipes better than white meat. The choice is yours. If you want to save time, use a baked chicken from the deli.
Rinse your chickens in cold water and place them in a pot and fill with water. You are going to boil the chicken for 1/2 hour. Always test your chicken to make sure it is done. You don’t want to see any red juices coming out of the chicken.
When done, remove the chicken to a dish to cool off.
When the chicken is cool enough to touch, you will debone the chicken. Discard the skin, bones, grisle, and any other parts you don’t want to eat!
Try not to leave your chicken out at room temperature too long. You don’t want to encourage bacterial growth.
Place your deboned chicken on a clean cutting board and cut the chicken into approximately 1 inch chunks. If you have ever considered buying one good knife for your kitchen, here is one I have been happy with. I use it all the time and love it. It’s razor sharp and lightweight.
At this point you can start assembling your chicken enchiladas. If you want to keep your chicken warm just put it in a pot on the stove in the juice it was cooked in.
Heat the vegetable oil on medium high heat in a pan big enough to fit the tortillas in.
Assembly Time
When the oil is hot, take two tortillas with tongs and hold them in the oil until they bubble. The tortillas should bubble right away. If they don’t, your oil is not hot enough.
Lift and dip the tortillas in and out of the oil 3 times fairly quickly.
The goal is to make the tortillas soft so they are easy to roll. If you leave them in the oil too long, the tortillas get stiff and are hard to roll. Toss those aside and try again. If you make these chicken enchilada recipes enough times, you will get good at it.
Now dip the tortillas in hot enchilada sauce to coat them. Transfer the coated tortillas to a plate or tray. The tortillas will be hot, so be careful.
You might want to wait 1 minute to let the tortillas cool.
Now add a large spoonful of chicken on top of the coated tortilla. Lay it right down the middle from end to end.
Grab one end of the tortilla (closest to you) and bring it over 3/4 of the way to the other end. Place your fingers on top near the chicken. Tuck and roll the enchilada over so that the opening is now on the bottom.
Pick up the enchilada and place it on a oven-proof dish. When you pick it up, make sure you grab the seam on the bottom with your fore fingers and let your pinky fingers cover the ends of the enchilada so the chicken doesn’t fall out.
After a little practice you’ll realize that making these chicken enchilada recipes is a breeze.
After you have placed your chicken enchiladas in the dish, use a ladle to spoon the enchilada sauce over the top of all the enchiladas. Spoon plenty of sauce to completely cover the enchiladas and the bottom of the dish.
Sprinkle grated mild cheddar cheese over the top of the chicken enchiladas. Use a much or as little as you desire.
Then sprinkle finely chopped yellow onions on top or not.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and place the chicken enchiladas in the oven. You don’t need to cover them.
Since all of your ingredients are warm, you will only need to leave them in the oven a few minutes.
When you see that the cheese has completely melted and the sauce is bubbling around the edges, you know it’s hot enough.
Take the chicken enchiladas out of the oven and serve immediately.
My Notes
