Best Stacked Beef Enchiladas With Ancho Chile Sauce Recipes

STACKED BEEF ENCHILADAS (AKA MEXICAN LASAGNA)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and the baking soda. Mix with your hands until evenly combined. Let sit on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the beef sits, prepare the sauce. Set an oven rack about 5 inches beneath the heating element and preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Toss the tomatoes, onions, and garlic with the vegetable oil directly on the prepared baking sheet. Broil until softened and charred, 12 to15 minutes (if the vegetables are browning too quickly, give them a quick stir with a rubber spatula). Transfer the vegetables and juices to a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper and pulse until just slightly chunky. Add the cilantro and pulse until the cilantro is chopped. Set the sauce aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring frequently and breaking into pieces, until just slightly pink, about 2 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes more, or until cooked through.
• To assemble: Preheat oven to 350°F and move the oven rack to the center position. Lightly oil a 9x13-in glass or ceramic baking dish.
• Set aside 1 cup of the sauce for the top of the casserole. (You want to ensure that you have enough to cover the top layer of tortillas, otherwise they won't cook through.)
• Line the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of tortillas, overlapping them slightly. Spoon half of the beef (and any juices) over the tortillas. Top with half of the sauce and ⅓ of the cheese. Repeat with another layer of tortillas, the remaining beef, remaining sauce, and ⅓ of the cheese. Top with the remaining tortillas. Spread the reserved sauce over the tortillas and cover completely. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over top. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is completely melted.
• Note: Chipotle chili powder is smoky and hot and makes this dish a little spicy. For a milder dish, replace the chipotle chili powder with ancho chili powder, which isn't as hot.
• MAKE-AHEAD/FREEZER-FRIENDLY INSTRUCTIONS: The casserole can be prepared ahead of time, tightly covered with foil, and refrigerated for up to two days or frozen for up to 3 months before baking (if frozen, defrost in the refrigerator before cooking). It can also be fully baked, tightly covered with foil, and refrigerated for up to two days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat: defrost if necessary and heat the covered casserole in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until hot. If you'd rather reheat individual servings, small portions can be zapped in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

STACKED BEEF ENCHILADAS WITH ANCHO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim any fat and gristle from meat; cut in 1-inch pieces. Heal oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Brown meat and then add garlic, bay leaf,oregano,salt, pepper, and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Remove pot from heat and cool meat until lukewarm in the broth. Once warm enough to handle, remove meat from broth and shredd using hands to break up meat. Reserve the broth for Ancho Chile Sauce and other uses. NOTE: no need to wash pan yet.
• Prepare the Ancho Chile Sauce (instructions below). To make this dish easier, I made this sauce the day before. This sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days and in the freezer for 3 months.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same skillet beef was cooked in and cook onion over a meduim high heat, stirring, unti onion starts to brown (about 5 to 6 minutes). Add diced green chiles, cumin, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, an additional 3 minutes; add meat and remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 11 X 16-inch pan. Make sure your pan is large enough that the enchiladas don't overlap. Heat oil to depth of 1/2-inch in a medium skillet and soften the tortillas 1 at a time by passing through hot oil, holding edge with tongs until limp, about 3 seconds. Drain on paper towels. Stack and cover to keep soft and warm. NOTE: I made fresh tortillas so I did not fry mine as they were still soft.
• Ladle a thin film of the Ancho Chile Sauce in pan. Place 4 tortillas side by side in pan, do not overlap. Top each with 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture. Top each with another tortilla and meat mixuter. Repeat for a third layer. Top each with cheese, olives and green onions. Cover each with the Ancho Chile Sauce.
• Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until cheese melts and sauce bubbles. Remove from oven and cut into wedges. Serve with crema or sour cream, some diced tomatoes and sprinkle with cilantro.
• INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANCHO CHILE SAUCE FOR ENCHILADAS Wipe the chiles with a damp paper towel. Cut open and remove stems and seeds. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the chiles, turning until they are aromatic, just a few seconds should do it. Do not burn or they will be bitter. Place chiles in a bowl and cover with hot water for about 20 minutes; drain and discard water.
• Put chiles, tomatoes, onion, garlic, oregano, marjoram and broth in a blender. Blend to a smooth puree. This should be the consistency of a heavy cream. If too thick, add 1 tablespoon water at a time unitl desired consistency.
• Heat oil over medium heat; add chile puree. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, simmer (stirring frequently to blend flavors)for about 15 minutes. Stir in cream and heat completely, about 3 minutes. Sauce is now ready to use or you can refrigerate for 3 days or will keep in freezer for 3 months.
• HOMEMADE BASIC CORN TORTILLAS You will need a tortilla press (unless you know how press them another way) and plastic wrap. Also, you could use already made corn tortillas.
• In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together using your hands. Knead dough well until moist and smooth, not crumbly and not sticky, about 5 minutes. If dough is crumbly, moisten hands and continue to knead. If it's sticky, add 1 tablespoon of the masa flour at time until desired consistency (a smooth moist dough).
• Cover bowl with plastic and allow dough to rest 20 minutes before using. NOTE: You can refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.
• Form dough into 12 equal balls about the the size of a golf ball. Keep dough covered while working to keep it from drying out. Heat a Mexican cornal of mediou skillet over medium-high heat.
• Open tortilla press and line with a piece of plastic, place dough ball in middle and cover with another piece of plastic, press firmly to form a round tortilla. Remove from press, place in palm of your hand and carefully remove plastic wrap, flip over in your hand and remove other piece of plastic.
• Lay tortilla on hot pan; cook 20 to 30 seconds, or until edges look dry. With spatula, flip and cook about 1 minute. Turn again and cook 15 seconds. Remove and stack between layers of paper towels to keep warm. Repeat to make 12 tortillas.

WEST TEXAS STACKED ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• 1. In a dry skillet heated on high, toast the ancho chiles on each side for about 10 seconds or just until they start to puff. Fill the skillet with enough water to cover chiles. Leave the heat on until water begins to boil and then turn off the heat and let the chiles soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Once hydrated, discard the soaking water and rinse the chiles.
• 2. Put ancho chiles, chipotle chiles, garlic, half of the diced onions, cumin, oregano, allspice, and chicken broth in a blender and puree. It should be thick and smooth.
• 3. In a pot, heat 1 tablespoon of lard or oil on low heat and then whisk in the flour. Pour in the sauce, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and black pepper to taste, and adjust other seasonings as needed.
• 4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a large baking dish.
• 5. In a skillet, heat on medium 1 tablespoon of lard or oil. Cook each tortilla for about 30 seconds on each side (or until soft). Keep warm in a towel or a warmer.
• 6. To assemble the enchiladas, take a tortilla and place it in the baking dish. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the sauce on each tortilla and then add 1/4 cup of the grated cheeses, mixed, and 1 teaspoon of onions. Add another tortilla, and add same amount of sauce, cheese, and onions. Add a third tortilla, and again top with sauce, cheese, and onions. Repeat until you have four stacks.
• 7. Bake enchiladas in the oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling. While enchiladas are cooking, heat the remaining tablespoon of lard or oil in the cast-iron skillet and then fry the eggs two at a time (or however many will fit). To serve, place an enchilada stack on a plate and top with a fried egg.

STACKED BEEF ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• 1. Trim the meat of fat or gristle. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a large pot. Brown the meat in batches, and remove to a bowl until all pieces are browned. Return the meat to the pan, and add the garlic, bay leaf, oregano, salt, pepper, and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. Remove pan from the heat and cool the meat to lukewarm in the broth. Remove the meat and shred. Cover and reserve. Save the broth for the enchilada sauce. 2. Prepare the ancho chile sauce. Then, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet and cook the onion, stirring, until it starts to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the diced green chiles, cumin, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the shredded meat. Add salt, if desired. Remove from the heat. 3. Preheat the oven to 350°.Grease a large 11- × 16- inch baking pan, with an edge, large enough to accommodate 4 tortillas laid out flat, so that they don't overlap. Heat oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a medium skillet, and soften the tortillas, 1 at a time, by passing through the hot oil, holding the edge with tongs, until limp, about 3 seconds. Drain on paper towels. Stack and cover to keep them soft and warm. 4. Ladle a thin film of the reserved enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan. Place 4 tortillas side by side in the pan. Top each tortilla with about 4 tablespoons of the meat mixture. Place a second tortilla over the meat. Top with meat as before and place a third tortilla over the meat. Cover each stack completely with chile sauce. Sprinkle the tops of each stack with 1/3 of the grated cheese, 1/3 of the chopped onion, and 1/3 of the sliced olives. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the sauce bubbles, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into wedges. Dollop each serving with crema or sour cream and sprinkle with cilantro. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.