New Mexico-style stacked red enchiladas are a delicious and flavorful dish! They’re different from the traditional rolled enchiladas because the tortillas are stacked, layered with sauce, cheese, and other fillings. Here’s a general way to make them:
Ingredients:
- Corn tortillas (6-8, preferably fried slightly to soften)
- Red enchilada sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- Shredded cheese (cheddar or a blend, or try a bit of Monterey Jack)
- Ground beef or chicken (optional, cooked and seasoned)
- Onions (chopped)
- Chopped green chile (a key New Mexico flavor)
- Lettuce (shredded, for topping)
- Sour cream (optional, for serving)
- Olives (optional, for topping)
- Cilantro (optional, for garnish)
Directions:
- Prepare the sauce: If using a homemade red chile sauce, you’ll need dried red chiles, garlic, cumin, and other spices to make the sauce. If using a store-bought version, you can skip this step, but New Mexico-style is often made with a rich, smoky red chile sauce.
- Prepare the tortillas: Lightly fry the corn tortillas in hot oil for a few seconds until they soften (but don’t crisp them up completely). This gives them a great texture that soaks up the sauce without falling apart. You can also use them directly if you prefer a softer version.
- Layer the enchiladas:
- In a baking dish, spread a bit of sauce on the bottom.
- Place a tortilla on top, then spread a bit more sauce, cheese, and any optional fillings like cooked ground beef or chicken, onions, and green chile.
- Repeat the process, stacking 3–4 tortillas and layering sauce and fillings between each.
- Bake: Once the final layer is added, top with a generous amount of cheese. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 20–25 minutes, or until everything is heated through and the cheese is melted.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and top with shredded lettuce, sour cream, olives, and cilantro. You can also add a fried egg on top for extra richness if you like!
These stacked enchiladas are hearty and comforting, with the red chile sauce bringing that signature smoky, spicy flavor typical of New Mexico cuisine. Enjoy!
