These are just about the tastiest enchiladas I have ever made. And I've made quite a lot of enchiladas, some of which were very good indeed.
And it's funny, because with every batch of enchiladas I have made, I have said to myself: "these are good, but they're not good enough." How many times have you ever said that to yourself, or to others, about something that you have done, or made, or just about yourself in general? I'm guessing probably hundreds, or thousands, of times a day - I know that's certainly true for me.
Well, these Chicken Enchiladas with Brussels Sprouts and Kale are delicious, I can promise you that. They are definitely good enough. But the number of times that I second-guessed myself during the process of cooking, photographing, editing the photos, it's a wonder I ever got anywhere near hitting publish on this post. Or any of my posts, in fact. If I always listened to that pesky voice in my head, telling me on constant loop that I am not good enough, then none of these recipes would get published. Most probably, this blog would not even exist. And so, with every photograph I take, or recipe I create, or blog post I write, I get to learn a little bit more. Become a little less stupid. Do things a little differently next time. With each one, I grow that little bit more. There is no growth without discomfort and with no growth...well, we might feel safe and comfortable but that's not really living is it? So go and do what you want to do and remember that however it turns out, you are good enough. And I'll do my best to remember that too.
As it happens, I am really excited about these enchiladas. I know that it crossed my mind that chicken enchiladas have been done before. And they have, many, many times. But not by ME. Everybody puts a different spin on things and that's what this is all about in the end, isn't it? Hey, that's what life is all about. And it's what makes it all so joyful. So here is my version of chicken enchiladas - me, somebody who has certainly never been to Mexico and most definitely was not brought up eating such dishes. Nope, I've just read books, looked at photographs, eaten at restaurants, all with my own perspective and these are the enchiladas that I like to make and devour in my own kitchen. Seriously, I could eat half of the tray in one sitting. (Never have though.)
(Never.)
(Really.)
(OK I have and I'm STILL good enough.)
So let's talk about the enchiladas. I use corn tortillas. I'm pretty sure that's traditional, but in any case, I like the corn ones best for enchiladas. And for somebody who is almost always about cooking from scratch, this is one of those times that I use ready-made tortillas because who has the time or patience to make enchilada sauce and a filling and tortillas? Not me that's for sure - I save the homemade ones for tacos, where it really counts.
The enchilada sauce is seriously easy. In true Mexican style, I start my sauce off by letting some onions get really soft and jammy in a good spoonful of goose fat (OK so they use lard, but it's almost the same!) before adding spices, tomato passata, a little vegetable stock and making sure it's all perfectly seasoned. To make this even easier use leftovers of our Perfect Crispy Roast Chicken.
The filling consists of spiced chicken breast pieces, the savoury bite of black beans and a good helping of those delicious winter greens, brussels sprouts and kale. I added them because I love the ferrous note that they contribute but it's never lost on me when I can cram some extra veggies into a dish. That's always a win in my book.
So what are you waiting for?! Get to it and make yourself some Chicken Enchiladas with Brussels Sprouts and Kale now! Go! Don't forget to check out my Easy Crispy Chicken Tacos with Slaw recipe too. It's divine!
📖 Recipe
Chicken Enchiladas with Brussels Sprouts and Kale
Ingredients
For the sauce
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon goose fat, lard or oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle en adobo paste
- 500 g tomato passata, (2 cups)
- 100 ml vegetable or chicken stock, (~½ cup)
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- pinch of salt
For the enchiladas
- 250 g chicken breasts, (½ lb) cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon cumin, divided
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 2 tablespoons rapeseed or olive oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped or grated
- 100 g brussels sprouts, (1 cup) sliced
- 30 g cavolo nero, (1 cup) or kale of choice, ribs removed and sliced
- ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes
- 150 g cooked black beans, (1 cup)
- 100 g extra mature cheddar cheese, (1 cup) grated
- 8 corn tortillas
Instructions
For the sauce
- Heat the goose fat or oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, until soft and jammy.½ red onion, 1 tablespoon goose fat, lard or oil
- Add the garlic, spices and chipotle paste and cook for another minute.2 cloves garlic, ¼ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon Mexican oregano, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chipotle en adobo paste
- Add the passata, stock, sugar and a pinch of salt (you may need more if your stock is unsalted). Bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Taste and check seasoning.500 g tomato passata, 100 ml vegetable or chicken stock, ½ teaspoon brown sugar, pinch of salt
For the enchiladas
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF.
- Sprinkle the chicken with ½ teaspoon each cumin and smoked paprika and all of the chipotle chilli powder and oregano, along with some salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan and sauté the chicken pieces for a few minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate.¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, 250 g chicken breasts, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chipotle chilli powder, ¼ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- Heat another tablespoon of oil in the same pan. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sauté until soft, around 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another minute.2 tablespoons rapeseed or olive oil, 1 red onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the sliced sprouts and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the kale along with the remaining cumin and smoked paprika and the chilli flakes and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes. Tip in the black beans.1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 100 g brussels sprouts, 30 g cavolo nero, ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes
- Add back the cooked chicken pieces along with ½ cup cheese and ½ cup sauce to bind. Season to taste.
- Spread ½-1 cup of sauce over the bottom of a large baking dish. Divide the chicken and black bean mixture between the corn tortillas. Roll up and place in the dish. Top with another ½-1 cup of sauce and the remaining ½ cup of cheese.150 g cooked black beans, 100 g extra mature cheddar cheese, 8 corn tortillas
- Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
I know, I know, that's not a real portion.
Susan says
Can't wait to give them a try they look delicious.
GEH says
Easy and tasty lunch idea - Yum
Lorna says
Drool! I'd be very happy to much all of these!
Lorna says
*munch!