White Chicken Enchiladas - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

Pre-fry your tortillas

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

What is white enchilada sauce made of? It's a classic sour cream-based enchilada sauce that starts with a quick roux made with equal parts of butter and flour. Then you stir in some chicken broth, chiles, and sour cream. Then, comes the cheese!

Queso fresco: This spongy white cheese is grainy and mildly acidic. It's usually made with a combination of cow's milk and goat's milk. It is often crumbled over salads, refried beans, tacos, enchiladas and soups.

But in Mexico, they're called “Enchiladas Suizas”, without any chile, just green tomato blended. Although, enmoladas or “Enchiladas de mole” actually have cheese, often a white, non gratin cheese, as Queso blanco, queso fresco o Queso doble crema, or some salty, strong flavour cheese, as Queso Cotija.

Choosing the Wrong Tortillas

While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas. Corn tortillas have a distinct flavor that plays a key part of the enchilada experience, compared to flour tortillas, which are more like a blank slate.

If you prefer a creamy enchilada sauce, La Victoria Creamy Chili premade enchilada sauce is the best enchilada sauce at the grocery store. This premade enchilada sauce, which comes in a jar rather than a can, isn't spicy at all, even though it has the word “chili” in its name.

Pour extra red sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle cilantro over enchiladas before serving.

Queso fresco

This soft white cheese is a fresh cheese made with cow's milk, goat milk, or a combination of the two. It is sold in small rectangular pieces similar in size to adobo bricks, which is why it is also known as adobera. Queso fresco comes from Jalisco, in the western part of Mexico.

Enchiladas are laden with sauce and fillings, and you need a tortilla that will hold up to all the moisture, so you should always opt for corn over flour.

Should you cover enchiladas when you bake them? ›

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving.

Queso Blanco

Translated to “white cheese,” this option is yet another crumbly cheese for Mexican food. It's softer than Cotija, making it a more subtle option for refried beans, salads, and enchiladas. Queso Blanco is unique in that it melts well without melting completely.

Cotija cheese is one of the most used varieties in Mexico. You'll find it in several different recipes such as enchiladas, tacos, beans, salads, and soups. It's a white crumbly variety with a similar flavor and texture to feta.

Also known as pickled or white brine cheese, white cheese is coagulated and preserved in brine. Commonly produced in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, many local varieties exist and many, such as feta, akawi and halloumi, have achieved global appeal.

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Assemble the remaining enchiladas. Then spread any remaining sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas, followed by any extra cheese. Bake. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside.

Roll up tortillas; place seam sides down and widthwise in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spread with salsa; sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.