If you like your enchiladas plump, juicy, saucy and full of flavour, this is the recipe for you! Homemade from scratch, the foundation of this recipe is a double duty Enchilada Spice mix.

Ingredients

▢8 tortillas , flour or corn (about 20cm/8″ wide, Note 1)
Enchilada Seasoning:
▢1 tsp EACH onion powder, garlic powder, salt
▢1 tbsp EACH dried cumin powder, paprika, dried oregano
▢1/4 tsp black pepper
▢3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, adjust to taste)
Enchilada Sauce
▢2 tbsp olive oil
▢3 tbsp flour , plain/all purpose
▢2 cups (500ml) chicken stock/broth , low sodium
▢1.5 cups (375ml) tomato passata or US puree (Note 4 sub)
Chicken Filling:
▢600g / 1.2lb chicken breast , sliced in half horizontally (or boneless thigh) (Note 2)
▢2 tbsp olive oil , separated
▢1/2 onion , chopped
▢2 garlic cloves , finely minced
▢1 red capsicum/bell pepper , diced
▢400g / 14oz refried beans (Note 3)
▢400g/14oz canned corn , drained (sub frozen 1 3/4 cups)
▢1/4 cup (65ml) water
▢1 cup (100g) cheese shredded (Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, cheddar)
Topping
▢1.5 cups (150g) cheese , shredded
▢2 tbsp coriander/cilantro , roughly chopped

Instructions

1. Enchilada Seasoning: Mix Enchilada Seasoning Spices. To be used for Filling and Sauce.

Enchilada Sauce

1. Make roux – Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir 20 seconds.

2. Add other ingredients – Add 2 tbsp Enchilada Seasoning, broth and tomato. Stir to combine.

3. Simmer to thicken – Increase heat slightly to medium high. Cook for 4 minutes, whisking
regularly, until the sauce thickens to the consistency of thick syrup (see video). Remove from stove.

Chicken Filling

1. Coat chicken – Drizzle 1 tbsp oil over chicken, mix to coat. Sprinkle with Seasoning, toss to
coat.

2. Cook chicken – Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add chicken, cook
2 minutes. Turn and cook 1.5 minutes. Remove, rest 2 minutes then chop.

3. Saute onion – In the same skillet, add onion and garlic, cook 1 minute. Add capsicum, cook 2
minutes until onion is translucent.

4. Add everything else – Add refried beans, diced chicken, corn and water. Stir and cook for 2
minutes until reduces slightly. Should be thick and juicy, not watery.

Assemble and bake:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.

2. Roll – Lay tortilla on work surface. Spread 2/3 cup Filling on lower third, sprinkle with cheese
then roll up, finishing with the seam side down (to hold it closed). Repeat to make 8.

3. Smear a scoop of Enchilada Sauce across base of 22 x 33cm /9 x 13″ pan. Place Enchiladas in,
pour over remaining Sauce, sprinkle with cheese.

4. Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden. Serve immediately, sprinkled with
coriander!

Notes

1. Tortillas – I use flour tortillas as you can buy large ones that are pliable and easy to roll up
without having to warm up.
If you use corn or if the flour tortillas are a bit stiff, just warm them up slightly to make them
pliable (10 seconds in the microwave does the trick).

2. Chicken – I do this to make thin steaks so there’s more surface area to coat in the spice mix!

3. Refried beans – don’t judge! It’s a bit of a secret ingredient here, makes the burrito filling juicy
and holds it together, rather than dry and crumbly (which too many burritos are!)
It’s essentially just mashed/pureed beans that are a staple in Mexican/Tex-Mex cooking. Sold in the
Mexican section of grocery stores, also sometimes in the canned vegetables section.

4. Tomato passata is often labelled “tomato puree” in the US and Canada.
Tomato paste substitute – instead of using Passata, add 4 tbsp tomato paste PLUS 1 extra cup of
broth/stock PLUS 1 tsp sugar.

5. Storage: Cooked leftovers will keep for 4 days in the fridge.
BEST way to freeze or refrigerate – keep sauce separate, then pour over and sprinkle with cheese
just prior to baking. (Reason: tortillas absorb sauce) Thaw sauce then assemble (don’t forget
cheese!). Can bake from frozen (below).
Fully assemble ahead – best way is to fully cool the sauce and the rolled up enchiladas (place
them in the pan). THEn assemble. (Tortillas absorb far less sauce when both are cold). 95% as good
as keeping separate.
Bake from frozen – The enchiladas can be baked from frozen. Cover with foil and bake 20
minutes, then remove foil and bake 20 minutes at 180°C/350°F.
If thawed, bake per recipe.

6. Nutrition per enchilada. These are BIG and plump! I find that 1 1/2 fills me up!

Nutrition

Calories: 471cal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg |
Sodium: 1152mg | Potassium: 716mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1192IU | Vitamin C: 29mg |
Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 3mg