Beef Enchiladas with Red Sauce
Looking for a tasty enchiladas recipe with a big ingredient list and huge flavor? Try this recipe for beef enchiladas with red sauce. You won't be disappointed with the taste and aroma of this Mexican dish!
Cooking MethodSlow Cooker
Ingredients
- 6 medium dried ancho/pasilla chiles
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 1/2 cup fresh water, or broth
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1/2 cake Mexican chocolate, optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 tablespoons corn oil
- 1 tablespoon flour or dry masa
- 1 pound chuck or beef stew meat
- 1/2 small onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 bay leaf
- 12 corn tortillas
- corn oil
- 1/2 pound cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup green onions/chives, chopped fine
- Sour cream, for topping
Instructions
- Use some dried chiles, like anchos/pasillas.
- You can mix in chipotles (these are hot), and/or New Mexicos chiles.
- Toast them in a hot oven for a few minutes, until you can smell them, remove the stems and seeds, then cover them with boiling water.
- Put a bowl on top to keep them submerged.
- They should be soft in about 20 minutes. Drain them thru a strainer as the water may be bitter.
- Puree them with a cup of fresh water or broth.
- Sautee some chopped onion a little corn oil and a pinch of salt until somewhat caramelized, then add the garlic and saute just until flavorful. Now add 1 tablespoon flour or dry masa to make a roux.
- Add the chile puree and some Mexican chocolate. The chocolate along with the sauteed onions help counteract some of the bitterness of the chile. You can add cumin or Mexican oregano.
- Bring this mixture to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes. If the sauce is too thick use more water or broth to thin it. Roughly chop the onion and garlic.
- To a slow cooker or pot add the meat, onion, and garlic and cover with fresh water or broth. Cook overnight in the slow cooker on low), or simmer in the pot for a few hours until meat is tender.
- Do not boil the water as this can cause the meat to become tough. Add salt after the meat is tender to the point of falling off a fork.
- Strain the meat juices (which can be reserved to make gravy later by boiling with 1 Tblsp of flour until thick).
- Shred the meat and place in a covered container and refrigerate until ready to use. In a non-stick pan, saute one tortilla at a time in corn oil until limp. (use tongs to turn them).
- Next place the limp tortilla into a large fry pan with the sauce. Coat both sides of the tortilla in the chile sauce and place in a flat dish or flat pan to do the rolling, which can be messy.
- Fill tortilla with beef, cheese etc. Roll it up and place seam side done on a baking tray that has been lined with foil (easy cleanup).
- Repeat for about a dozen tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese and bake at about 250-F until the cheese is melted on the top. Serve with rice and beans and top the enchiladas with sour cream and chopped green onion/chives.
