Enchiladas Verdes (Green Chicken Enchiladas)
Why this recipe works
- Fresh, layered salsa verde: Simmering the onion, garlic, jalapeño and tomatillos before blending gives the sauce depth while keeping its bright green character.
- Balanced tang: Tomatillos and lime bring sharpness, while chicken, tortillas and queso fresco soften the acidity for a rounded finish.
- Saucy baked texture: Dipping and covering the tortillas in salsa verde helps them bake up tender and fully seasoned rather than dry.
Get the most out of this recipe
Adjust the heat
- For a milder sauce: Remove the jalapeño seeds before cooking, or use less chilli and rely on lime and coriander for brightness.
- For more heat: Swap the jalapeño for serrano, or add extra chilli gradually when simmering the salsa verde.
- Keep the heat balanced: Taste the blended sauce before assembling; extra lime can sharpen the flavour, while queso fresco helps mellow the chilli at serving.
Ingredient notes
- Choose good tomatillos: Look for firm tomatillos with tight husks and a fresh green colour; they should taste bright and tart once cooked.
- Warm the tortillas first: Briefly warming corn tortillas makes them pliable, so they roll more easily and are less likely to split.
- Use fresh coriander: Fresh coriander gives the salsa verde its herbal lift; dried coriander will not provide the same clean finish.
Common mistakes
- Not softening the tomatillos enough: If the tomatillos are still firm, the sauce can taste sharp and raw; simmer until they are soft and beginning to collapse.
- Leaving tortilla edges uncovered: Make sure the enchiladas are well coated with salsa verde so the tortillas soften evenly during baking.
- Serving straight from the oven: A short rest helps the filling settle and makes the enchiladas easier to serve without losing too much sauce.
Make-ahead tips
- Make the components ahead: The chicken and salsa verde can be prepared in advance, then assembled and baked when needed.
- Reheat gently: Warm covered enchiladas in a 180°C (355°F) oven until piping hot, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened.
- Freezer-friendly: Cool completely, cover tightly and freeze; defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Put the chicken in a saucepan, cover with the water, then add 1 tsp of the fine sea salt and 0.5 tsp of the black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 to 18 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Lift the chicken out to a bowl and shred it with two forks. Reserve 150 ml of the cooking liquid in the bowl with the chicken, then discard the rest. Set aside while you make the salsa verde.
- Peel and roughly chop the white onion and garlic, and halve the jalapeno pepper (remove seeds for a milder sauce). Heat the olive oil in the saucepan over medium heat, then cook the onion with a pinch of the remaining salt for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the tomatillos and 150 ml of the reserved cooking liquid. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the tomatillos are soft and starting to break down. Take off the heat and let it cool for 2 minutes.
- Blend the tomatillo mixture with most of the fresh coriander (reserve a little for finishing) until smooth. Taste and season with the remaining fine sea salt and black pepper. Stir in a squeeze of lime to brighten the sauce.
- Spread a thin layer of salsa verde over the base of a baking dish. Warm the corn tortillas briefly in a dry frying pan or in the oven for 1 to 2 minutes so they are pliable. Dip each tortilla in salsa verde, fill with shredded chicken, roll up, and arrange seam-side down in the dish.
- Pour the remaining salsa verde over the enchiladas, making sure the edges are well covered. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until bubbling and hot throughout. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Crumble the queso fresco over the top and scatter over the reserved fresh coriander. Cut the lime into wedges and serve for squeezing at the table. Serve straight from the dish while hot.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For a smoother, less sharp salsa verde, simmer the tomatillos until they are fully collapsed and the liquid looks slightly thickened before blending.
- If you are serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, make sure the chicken is cooked until piping hot all the way through before shredding and again after baking.
Substitutions
- Replace Chicken thighs with Chicken breast boneless skinless for a leaner filling; reduce the simmering time slightly and cook just until the chicken is done.
- Replace Jalapeno pepper with Serrano pepper for a hotter salsa verde.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 180°C (355°F) oven for 15 to 20 minutes until piping hot; add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened. Freeze tightly covered for up to 2 months and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 55min (35min active)
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cuisine: Mexican
-
Allergens:
Milk
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