Chicken Enchiladas With Red Sauce

Chicken Enchiladas with red sauce

I learned how to make enchiladas from Dora Osoria in Baybrook Texas. I took the method of making enchiladas from Dora and the Red Enchilada Sauce from Allrecipes. Some comments say the sauce tastes like marinara sauce. But I am not a fan of the stuff at the restaurants anyway. I like more flavor less heat.
Earlier this year we went to a local Mexican restaurant where Stephen ordered his usual enchilada. This time what the waitress gave him did not look like an enchilada at all. The waitress explained it was a stacked enchilada. Cooks faster. Pretty clever.

Serving Size 10
Chicken- cook 4 large chicken breasts in 1 cup broth, 1 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp lime juice, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1 tsp oregano, pinch salt and pepper. Cook until almost done, slightly pink. Shred, put aside.

Sauce-
1 tbsp olive oil
2 large cloves garlic (sometimes I add up to 5 cloves)
1/2 tbsp minced onion
1/2 tsp oregano
2 1/2 tsp chili powder OR 1/8 chili powder plus 1/8 ground red pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
1/2 tsp basil
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin
1 tsp cilantro
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce, plus 1 can water
1 (4oz) can tomato paste, plus 1 can water
Cheese, Mexican blend or shredded cheddar and Monterey, about 1 pound

Heat oil in pan on medium-high. Saute garlic and onion slightly until fragrant about 1 minute. Add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer 20 minutes. Cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 350. Pour a little sauce on the bottom of a 13X9 inch baking dish, enough to cover the bottom. Lay tortilla in sauce, flip. Place on of working surface, sprinkle cheese and shredded chicken. Fold up and place in dish. Once pan is full drizzle some sauce over enchiladas. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Until cheese is melted and golden brown.