Celebrating Chilaquiles: The Ultimate Breakfast Delight
When I was growing up, chilaquiles (pronounced “chee-lah-KEE-lehs”) were my favorite Sunday morning breakfast dish. Crispy tortillas swimming in a rich salsa, covered with plenty of cheese? It’s simplicity at its best. Serve with a scrambled or fried egg on top, or with cheese, shredded chicken, or roasted veggies — the options are endless. Today I’m sharing the absolute easiest chilaquile recipe that is sure to have you in and out of the kitchen and smiling from ear to ear on Sunday morning.
What are chilaquiles?
Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish. Similar to migas, they were first made as a way to use stale tortillas. They consist of fried tortillas cooked in a flavorful sauce, typically salsa verde or salsa roja. You can top chilaquiles with eggs and serve them for breakfast or brunch as I do here, but the toppings can also vary. Crema, onions, and cheese are common, and some versions feature beans or a slice of meat like shredded chicken, beef, or pork. Depending on what toppings you use, chilaquiles can easily transcend breakfast to pass for lunch or dinner.
Chilaquiles With Red or Green Sauce
I recently brought some homemade salsa verde over to my friend Arturo’s house and he made two traditional Mexican versions for me, one with the salsa verde, and one with a red chile sauce made with dried ancho chiles. Recipes for both follow. Do you like enchiladas? Chilaquiles are basically the same ingredients but with a lot less work. No rolling.
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What Ingredients Are in Chilaquiles?
These are the ingredients most typically used for chilaquiles:
- Corn tortillas; we don’t recommend using flour tortillas, but if you’re short on time you could skip the frying step and swap in that bag of stale tortilla chips in your pantry.
- Jarred salsa or homemade salsa using tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and broth
- Cooking oil
- Garnishes such as avocado, queso fresco, crema, and a fried egg
The beauty of chilaquiles is they are completely customizable. Serve with a scrambled or fried egg on top, topped with queso fresco or cotija, shredded chicken, or roasted veggies — the options are endless. Because it’s so versatile, this dish is the perfect opportunity to use up any leftovers found in the fridge.
Chilaquiles Verdes Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this chilaquile recipe:
- Salsa verde – Use your favorite store-bought green salsa, or make homemade salsa verde with roasted tomatillos, onions, and jalapeños.
- Water or vegetable broth – It loosens the salsa so that it can evenly coat the chips.
- Thick tortilla chips – Traditionally, chilaquiles would be made with fried stale corn tortillas, but to streamline this recipe, I sub-store-bought tortilla chips. Look for fairly thick ones. If they’re too thin, they’ll quickly get soggy in the salsa.
- Fried eggs – I LOVE how the runny yolks create a rich sauce for the chilaquiles.
- Avocado – It offers a great creamy contrast to the crispy tortilla chips.
- Sliced radishes – For crunch.
- Jalapeño – For heat. Skip them if you’re sensitive to spice.
- Fresh cilantro – It adds a burst of fresh flavor to this hearty dish.
- Cotija cheese – For salty, tangy flavor. Crumbled feta or queso fresco would be great here too!
- Cilantro lime crema – This zesty, creamy sauce perfectly balances the tangy salsa. It’s easy to make in a blender or food processor with Greek yogurt, mayo, fresh herbs, lime juice, garlic, onion powder, and salt
- And sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – To make all the flavors pop.
What’s the Difference Between Chilaquiles Verdes and Chilaquiles Rojos?
Chilaquiles verdes are made with a salsa made from tomatillos, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro (hence the “greens” in the translation). Chilaquiles rojos are made with a salsa made from tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and broth. Both are cooked using the same technique — it simply comes down to the cook’s preference on which salsa they prefer. Today I’m sharing a chilaquiles rojos.Chilaquiles are also sometimes confused with migas, which is a more egg-forward Mexican dish consisting of diced corn tortillas, fried until golden; sautéed onion, tomato, and serrano; and served with scrambled eggs.
How Do I Serve Chilaquiles?
Chilaquiles can be topped or served with anything your little hungry heart desires. Scrambled or fried eggs, shredded chicken, sour cream, pico de gallo, queso fresco, or avocado are all great options.I like to place out bowls of toppings so my guests can choose what they like. Mi cariño (husband) loves them topped with a fried egg, and I prefer them with a side of refried beans.
FAQs
What are chilaquiles?
Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish made from fried tortillas cooked in salsa, typically topped with eggs, cheese, and other garnishes. They can be served for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Can I use flour tortillas for chilaquiles?
While corn tortillas are preferred for chilaquiles, you can use flour tortillas or even store-bought tortilla chips in a pinch, though the texture may differ.
What’s the difference between chilaquiles verdes and chilaquiles rojos?
Chilaquiles verdes are made with salsa verde (tomatillos), while chilaquiles rojos use a red sauce made from tomatoes and chiles. Both are delicious, but the choice depends on your preferred flavor.
Can chilaquiles be made ahead of time?
Chilaquiles are best served fresh, but you can prepare the salsa and toppings ahead of time for a quicker assembly when ready to serve.
What are some topping options for chilaquiles?
Toppings for chilaquiles can include scrambled or fried eggs, shredded chicken, avocado, cheese, crema, radishes, and cilantro. The options are endless and can be tailored to your taste!
Ending Word’s
Chilaquiles are a versatile, flavorful dish that can be customized to suit any taste. Whether you prefer them with salsa verde or roja, topped with eggs or veggies, they make a satisfying and easy meal perfect for any time of day. Enjoy experimenting with different toppings to make this classic Mexican dish your own!
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