Real enchiladas rojas start with a sauce โ a deeply flavored, brick-red chile sauce made from toasted dried peppers. This authentic approach gives enchiladas a complexity and depth that canned enchilada sauce simply cannot match.
These enchiladas are comfort food at its finest: tender shredded chicken wrapped in softened corn tortillas, bathed in rich red sauce, and topped with melted cheese and fresh garnishes.
Building the Red Chile Sauce
Toast dried guajillo and ancho peppers in a dry pan until fragrant and pliable. Rehydrate in hot water for 20 minutes. Blend with garlic, cumin, oregano, and some soaking liquid until smooth. Strain for silky texture. This sauce is the soul of the dish.
The Tortilla Technique
Briefly fry corn tortillas in hot oil (3-5 seconds per side) to make them pliable and prevent breaking. Immediately dip in warm sauce before filling and rolling. This double coating ensures every bite is sauced.
Choosing Cheese
Queso Oaxaca is traditional โ it melts beautifully in long, mozzarella-like strings. Monterey Jack is an excellent substitute. For a bolder flavor, use a mix of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar. Crumbled cotija on top adds a salty, tangy finishing touch.
๐ฝ๏ธ Traditional Mexican Enchiladas Rojas
Ingredients:
- 12 corn tortillas
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 6 dried guajillo chiles
- 3 dried ancho chiles
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- Vegetable oil
- Sour cream, cilantro, onion for garnish
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Toast dried chiles in dry pan 2 min. Remove stems and seeds. Soak in hot water 20 min.
- Blend soaked chiles with garlic, cumin, oregano, 1 cup broth. Strain through sieve.
- Simmer sauce with remaining broth 10 min. Season with salt.
- Briefly fry tortillas in oil (3-5 sec each side). Dip in warm sauce.
- Fill each tortilla with chicken and cheese. Roll and place seam-down in baking dish.
- Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake at 190ยฐC for 15-20 min until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with sour cream, cilantro, and diced onion.
Last updated: June 15, 2025
