Tonight’s hearty enchiladas owe their complex flavor to a sensational Mexican salsa verde. By roasting tomatillos—the tart green fruit that forms the base of the green sauce—we’re bringing out their smoky-sweet depth, before simmering them with pickled jalapeño for a zesty kick. Brimming with chicken, black beans and cheese, these enchiladas make for elevated Tex-Mex fare.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Tenders
- 4 Flour Tortillas
- 1 15-Ounce Can Black Beans
- 3 oz Fontina Cheese
- 6 oz Tomatillos
- 4 Garlic
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1 oz Sliced Pickled Jalapeño Pepper
- 1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Mexican Spice Blend (Ancho Chile Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Ground Cumin & Dried Mexican Oregano)
Instructions
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 475°F. Remove and discard any tomatillo husks. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Drain and rinse the beans. Peel and small dice the onion. Peel and mince the garlic. Grate the cheese. Roughly chop the pepper. Thoroughly wash your hands and cutting board immediately after handling the pepper. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; chop into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a bowl. Thoroughly wash your hands and cutting board immediately after handling the chicken.
Roast the tomatillos:
Place the tomatillos on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to thoroughly coat. Roast 11 to 13 minutes, or until lightly browned and softened. Remove from the oven, leaving the oven on.
Cook the chicken & make the filling:
While the tomatillos roast, season the chopped chicken with salt, pepper and the spice blend; toss to coat. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken; cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Add the beans and ⅓ cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes, or until the water has cooked off. Turn off the heat and stir in half the vinegar. Transfer to a bowl; season with salt and pepper to taste. Wipe out the pan.
Make the salsa verde:
In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. Add the roasted tomatillos, ½ cup of water and as much of the pepper as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and smashing the tomatillos with the back of a spoon, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened and the tomatillos have broken down. Turn off the heat and stir in the remaining vinegar; season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the enchiladas:
Place the tortillas on a work surface. Spread a thin layer of the salsa verde and ½ cup of the filling into the bottom of a baking dish. Divide the remaining salsa verde, remaining filling and ⅓ of the cheese between the tortillas; tightly roll up each tortilla around the filling. Transfer to the baking dish in a single layer, seam sides down. Evenly top with the remaining cheese; season with salt and pepper.
Bake the enchiladas & plate your dish:
Place the enchiladas in the oven and bake 11 to 13 minutes, or until lightly browned and the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and let stand for at least 2 minutes before serving. Divide between 2 dishes. Enjoy!