Baked Chicken Chilaquiles
Dried chile peppers can be found in Mexican grocery stores and in many supermarkets. If you can’t find all varieties listed here, use a combination of smoky, hot, and mild peppers.
Ingredients
SAUCE
- 1 dried ancho chile
- 4 dried guajillo chiles
- 1 dried pasilla chile
- 2 dried costeña chiles
- 2 canned chiles in adobo
- 1 14.5- ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes diced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ tsp salt
CHILAQUILES
- 4 corn tortillas cut into strips
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus extra for brushing on tortillas
- 1 shallot minced
- Kosher or sea salt
- 7 ounces short fideo pasta such as La Moderna brand
- 2 packed cups cooked shredded chicken (white or dark meat)
- 2½ cups habanero or salsa Jack cheese shredded
- 2½ cups queso fresco crumbled
- Fresh cilantro to garnish (optional)
- 1 jalapeño pepper thinly sliced (optional)
- Eggs for frying and topping (optional)
Instructions
- SAUCE: In a dry, deep skillet (preferably cast-iron) set over high heat, toast dried ancho, guajillo, pasilla, and costeña chiles, turning occasionally, until fragrant. Remove from heat, and cover with water. Add lid and let sit until softened, about 30 minutes. Remove stems and seeds, and purée with chiles in adobo, tomatoes, chicken broth, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
- CHILAQUILES: Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush tortilla strips with olive oil. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, sprinkle lightly with salt, and bake until crispy, 10 to 15 minutes.
- In a skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté shallot until translucent. Add pasta and sauté 2 to 3 minutes. To assemble, spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of a 2-quart rectangular casserole dish. Layer chicken, fideo, half the sauce, habanero or salsa Jack cheese, and queso fresco (reserve 1 cup for topping), ending with remaining sauce. (Note: Extra sauce is great on scrambled eggs.)
- Bake casserole 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and top with tortilla strips and reserved queso fresco. Bake 5 minutes more, then broil 1 to 2 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Serve topped with cilantro, jalapeño, and, if desired, a soft fried egg.
Photographer Mark Ferri
Mark Ferri is a graduate of Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif. He believes in a simple, direct approach that captures the natural beauty and appetite appeal of food. Mark celebrates a life-long passion for food by frequently exploring new restaurants in New York and in Europe, and loves to cook and entertain at his home in the Hudson Valley. Learn more about Mark on his website: http://www.markferriphoto.com/
Stylist Leslie Orlandini
Leslie Orlandini is a chef and an accomplished food stylist in print and television. She has been nominated for both James Beard and Emmy awards and is a veteran of thousands of cooking shows and segments. You can learn more about her through her website: http://leslieorlandini.com/
