Chilaquiles

I'm not even sure where to begin about this dish, WE LOVE IT! It's warm, spicy, comforting, and super delicious. I first had this dish in Playa de Carmen, Mexico this last November, and I've been making a version of it ever since. That's what's awesome about traveling and trying the traditional dishes, you can bring home a piece of that experience. Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican dish, typically corn tortillas cut into quarters and fried are the basis of the dish and a green or red salsa is usually poured over the tortillas until they begin to soften. Either eggs or pulled chicken are sometimes mixed in. The dish is topped with cheese and sour cream and maybe served with refried beans. It's usually eaten for breakfast or brunch, this makes it a popular recipe to use leftover tortillas and salsa. They also believe this dish is a cure for a hangover... you decide.

I will share the way I interpreted the dish but try and make it your own. We thought this dish was special enough for Christmas Eve breakfast with my mom and Big Mike, it was a total hit.


Also my friend Nicole asked me for some Indian cooking tips, and I told her I would post a list of Indian spice that I think would possibly work with this dish. Enjoy!


-Chilaquiles- Serves 2

4 eggs
2 tortillas (I use organic sprouted wheat tortillas, burrito size)
1 jar canned tomatoes, or 32 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1-2 chipotles in adobo sauce (I pour the rest of the can into a Ziploc and toss in the freezer)
half a medium yellow onion, cut into 1/2 inch rounds and cut in halve again
olive oil
salt and pepper

-Toppings-

avocado
tofutti sour cream, or regular sour cream
cheese
hot sauce

1. I start by simmering the jar, or can of tomatoes in medium saucepan over medium heat, when the tomatoes begin to simmer I season with salt and pepper. Chop up the chipotles and toss into simmering tomatoes. Turn down to low and let simmer while you work on the other ingredients. (When using canned tomatoes from the store, if the mixture looses all it liquid add just a little water. You want it to be thickened and reduced, but a little liquid is ideal.)


2. Pre-heat oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with foil, take to tortillas and cut in half, and then in half again. You'll have 4 quarters then cut each of those in half and place on cookie sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil and when oven is ready place in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. You want them crispy and slightly browned. When done take out of oven and let cook.


3. Next get two bowl ready for serving. Place a frying on medium heat with a little olive oil crack all the eggs and begin to cook, be sure to season with salt and pepper. Cook them to your liking, we like them over easy.


4. Just before the eggs are cooked add the half moon slices of onion into the tomato chipotle mixture and stir in. Then warm then through just a little, when ready spoon about 1/2 c to 2/3 of a cup of the tomato onion mixtuer into each bowl, next top with the eggs.


5. At this point it's up to you what you want to top your dish with, we like tofutti sour cream and avocado for sure. If we have cheese we add it, if not it's great without cheese. I place the baked tortilla wedges around the outside of the bowl. (I have a soggy bread and tortilla thing, this ensures that they don't get to soft before I can get to them.)


Here's a few Indian spices I think would work if you want to take the dish that direction.
Cinnamon, Cloves, Allspice, Cumin, Nutmeg, Corriander, Tumeric and Dried or Fresh Parsley,
I would start with about 1/4 t. of some of these to start out, remember you can always add more.


P.S. We had this dish for brunch this morning, and maybe for dinner later in the week :), also I use the leftover sauce for another dish that I will share, Brown Rice and Eggs.