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How to Make Cheese Enchiladas
One of many people's favorite Mexican dishes is the enchilada. Literally meaning, "seasoned with chile," this is a spicy, savory dish which offer cooks a lot of flexibility. The basic formula of enchiladas is corn (or sometimes flour, though this is less common) tortillas stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables, rolled up and topped with a spicy, chili-enriched tomato sauce.
Within these limits, you are free to make changes to the formula as you like, adding whatever fillings you prefer. One of the most popular fillings for enchiladas is of course beef, as in this recipe. This easy beef and cheese enchiladas recipe takes relatively little time to prepare and provides you with a satisfying meal which will become a family favorite.
Do not be intimidated if you have never made enchiladas before. It is actually no more difficult to do than making a casserole and in fact, it can be a lot easier. This recipe is especially simple, since it substitutes the usual homemade spicy tomato and chili sauce with salsa, which is a perfectly fine substitute, especially if you are in a rush.
Beef and Cheese Enchiladas
Ingredients -
½ pound lean ground beef
1 green or red bell pepper, diced
1 small yellow or red onion, diced
1 jalapeno or Serrano pepper, minced
2 cups salsa, your choice
½ cup sharp cheddar or Monterey jack cheese, shredded (divided)
8 corn tortillas (flour tortillas may be substituted if you like)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Oil for sautéing
Preparation:
Start by heating a little oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and preheating the oven to 425 degrees. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, bell pepper and jalapeno or Serrano and cook, stirring regularly until the onion starts to turn translucent and the peppers are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the ground beef and chopped cilantro and cook until browned.
Warm the tortillas over a flame or in a microwave and fill each with the beef mixture and one half of the shredded cheese. Add a little salsa to each and roll up the tortillas, laying them in a baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and salsa and bake, uncovered for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and begins to brown slightly. Remove from the oven, allow to stand for a few minutes. Serve hot with salsa, Mexican rice or the side dishes of your choice.
Enchiladas are a lot easier to make than you might think and they are always a winner with your dinner guests. As you see here, you can make these simple beef and cheese enchiladas in about 30 minutes - but everyone at your table will think you spent hours making them! Easy or not, this is a great recipe for a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch which gives you plenty of room to add other ingredients as you see fit. Feel free to use more salsa, more cheese, less cheese, make your own sauce; it's all up to you, but this enchilada recipe is great just as it is too.
(Serves 2)
