White Chicken Enchiladas - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

What is white enchilada sauce made of? ›

What's in white enchilada sauce? It's a classic sour cream-based enchilada sauce that starts with a quick roux made with equal parts of butter and flour. Then you stir in some chicken broth, chiles, and sour cream. Then, comes the cheese.

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

Queso fresco: This spongy white cheese is grainy and mildly acidic. It's usually made with a combination of cow's milk and goat's milk. It is often crumbled over salads, refried beans, tacos, enchiladas and soups.

Monterey Jack is a mild, creamy cheese that melts easily and adds a smooth texture to the enchiladas.

Sour cream– Use full fat for the best flavor. Milk– The amount you will need will vary based on the consistency you want. Lime juice– Fresh is best! Seasonings– Crushed red pepper, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, and salt.

While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas. Corn tortillas have a distinct flavor that plays a key part of the enchilada experience, compared to flour tortillas, which are more like a blank slate.

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside. Transfer the baking dish to a wire baking rack. Serve. Serve the enchiladas immediately while they're nice and hot and melty, garnished with lots of fresh toppings.

Tortillas: Corn tortillas are traditionally used in Mexican-style enchiladas, but I typically use flour tortillas (which are more commonly used in Tex-Mex and American-style enchiladas) since they are much easier to roll. That said, just about any style of tortillas will work in this recipe.

Yellow corn tortillas have a stronger corn flavor, whereas white tortillas have an almost oaky, nutty flavor when toasted. I personally like white tortillas for tacos and enchiladas, and use yellow ones for fried tortillas and corn chips when I want that corn taste to really come through.

What white wine is best for enchiladas? ›

My best choices would be, for a white, a light, refreshing pinot grigio, a chenin blanc, or a mildly oaked chardonnay. Or, for a red, something Spanish or Portuguese, or a juicy, unoaked syrah, malbec, merlot or zinfandel from Chile, the US or Argentina.

Although they are often used interchangeably, queso blanco is typically seen in fried or grilled dishes because it doesn't completely melt when exposed to heat. On the other hand, queso fresco is often used to top off soups, tacos and salads due to its crumbly nature.

For restaurant-style cheese enchiladas, look for a Mexican-style shredded cheese blend at the grocery store. These contain the perfect mix of cheeses that both stretch and melt when hot. Here are two blends to look out for (though there are lots more!): Monterey Jack cheese, Asadero, Queso Quesadilla.

Instead, all the rich and savory flavors come from only a handful of ingredients – dried chiles, garlic, salt and Mexican chocolate. (Check out this easy enchilada sauce recipe for a 10-minute version made with easy-to-find pantry ingredients like chili powder, tomato paste and broth.)

Enchilada sauces are smooth, chili-based sauces that include salsa roja (red enchilada sauce), chile con queso (cheese-based sauce), verde sauce (green enchilada sauce), and mole sauces.

Melt butter in sauce pan over low heat, blend in flour, salt and dash white pepper (black is fine). Add milk all at once, cooking quickly, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles and thickens. Remove sauce immediately upon bubbling. CHEDDAR SAUCE add 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (makes 1 1/2 cups).

Tomato Sauce with Spices

If you're in a pinch, a simple combination of tomato sauce and spices can stand in for enchilada sauce. Mix together tomato sauce with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and a pinch of oregano to create a quick and easy substitute.