Best Pork Enchilada Rojas Recipes

THE BEST PORK ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Rinse the red onion in cold water, breaking up the rings and removing any white membrane between the layers. Drain well. Toss the red onions, vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt and the sugar in a medium bowl until the sugar and salt dissolve. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until ready to serve.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the pork, turning once, until golden brown on two sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the yellow onions to the same pot, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste, cumin and oregano and cook, stirring occasionally, until the paste is brick red and the mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ancho and pasilla chiles, bay leaves, raisins, broth and 1 tablespoon salt. Return the pork and any accumulated juices to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to low, cover and simmer until the pork is falling apart and easily shreds, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Remove the bay leaves and discard. Transfer the pork to a medium bowl. Reserve the cooking liquid.
• Let the hot cooking liquid cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth. Pour the sauce into a medium bowl and repeat with any remaining cooking liquid. Season with salt.
• Pour 1/2 cup of the chile sauce over the pork. Use a potato masher to smash the pork into the sauce; it should fall apart completely. Remove any remaining large pieces of fat and discard. Stir to combine and season with salt if necessary.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
• Heat the remaining 1 cup oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until it bubbles immediately when the edge of a tortilla touches the surface. Working one at a time, fry the tortillas until just starting to brown and crisp, about 10 seconds per side (they should still be somewhat pliable). Drain on paper towels.
• Dip both sides of each tortilla in the chile sauce just to coat and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Spread 1/2 cup of the chile sauce in a 6-inch strip down the center of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish.
• Spoon 1/4 cup shredded pork across the center of a tortilla. Fold one side over the filling, then roll up the tortilla. Place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with more sauce and remaining tortillas (the enchiladas should be nestled right up against each other in the pan). Top with any remaining sauce in your bowl or leftover on the baking sheet. Cover tightly with foil and bake until the sauce bubbles, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil, top with the cheese and bake until the cheese is melted but not brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes.
• Top the enchiladas with the pickled red onions. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

AUTHENTIC ENCHILADAS ROJAS

Steps:

• Remove all seeds and stem from the peppers then rinse under cold water to remove any dust.
• In a medium pot, add the chiles, onions and garlic clove. Add enough water to cover the chiles.
• Cover and cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes or until very soft and pliable. Rest chiles in the water for another 10 to 15 minutes to cool off and finish hydrating the chiles.
• Transfer chiles to a blender or food processor and add 2 cups broth. Puree for about 1 minute. Note: you can do this in two different batches if the blender isn't big enough for all the ingredients at once.
• Strain the pureed chiles to remove the remaining seeds and skins (tip: push the chile mix with a spoon to get the most out of them).
• In a large saucepan, heat the 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the pureed chiles and tomato sauce. Cook, stirring often for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.
• Add about ¼ cup of oil to a small or medium skillet. Heat on medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot (but not smoky), add one tortilla at the time and cook each side for about 4 to 5 seconds or until tortilla is lightly fried (See notes section)
• As you fry each tortilla, drain any excess oil by tapping it into the pan then place on a plate with a paper towel. Repeat with remaining tortillas and add more oil if necessary.
• To assemble the enchiladas rojas, dip each tortilla into the warm sauce and place on the serving plates.
• Fill with your favorite filling. In this case we're using crumbled queso fresco but you can use shredded chicken, beef, beans or your favorite cooked vegetables.
• Either fold the tortilla like a taco or roll them as pictured below. I like to add a little more sauce on top for extra flavor.
• Sprinkle with queso fresco and other toppings you choose. I like to squeeze some lime juice to balance all of the flavors.
• Buen provecho!

PORK ENCHILADAS ROJAS

Steps:

• For the sauce and filling:
• Toast coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium heat, swirling pan often and adding cumin seeds during the last 30 seconds of cooking, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then finely grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle.
• Bring guajillo, ancho, and morita chiles and stock to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes to let chiles soften.
• Transfer chile mixture to a blender and add toasted spices, garlic, tomato paste, and oregano and purée until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 250°F. Heat oil in a medium heavy pot over medium-high. Season pork with salt and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 10-12 minutes. Pour off excess oil and add chile purée and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, cover, and transfer to oven. Braise pork until meat is very tender and shreds easily, 1 1/2-2 hours; season with salt.
• Skim excess fat from chile sauce; discard bay leaves. Transfer pork to a large bowl. Let cool slightly, then shred with 2 forks. Mix 1/2 cup chile sauce into pork; season with salt. Set remaining sauce aside.
• For the assembly:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high until it bubbles immediately when edge of tortilla touches the surface. Working one at a time, fry tortillas until just starting to brown and crisp, about 10 seconds per side (they should still be somewhat pliable). Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Dip both sides of each tortilla in chile sauce just to coat, then transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Spread 1 cup sauce down the length of a 13x9" baking dish. Spoon 1/4 cup pork mixture across the center of a tortilla and fold one side over filling, then continue to roll up tortilla. Place seam side down in prepared baking dish. Repeat with more sauce and remaining tortillas (enchiladas should be nestled right up against each other in pan). Top with cheese and remaining sauce. Bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, purée avocado, sour cream, lime juice, and 1/4 cup water in a food processor, adding more water to thin as needed, until smooth and creamy; season with salt.
• Top enchiladas with onion slices and drizzle with avocado cream. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.
• Do Ahead
• Pork can be braised 3 days ahead. Let cool in chile sauce (do not shred); cover and chill.

CARNITAS FOR ENCHILADAS ROJAS

Steps:

• Combine pork, garlic and salt in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Add 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, turning occasionally, until water has evaporated, about 1 hour; pork will begin to brown in its own fat. (If using leaner part of shoulder, add 1 to 2 tablespoons safflower oil.) Increase heat to medium and cook pork on all sides, turning and scraping up crisp bits with a spatula, until browned and tender, about 15 minutes. Coarsely shred with two forks.

CHEESY PORK ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix the chili powder, salt, oregano and pepper together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cubed pork chunks with the spice mixture and put into a large Dutch oven. Add 1 cup of the salsa verde, chicken broth, garlic and onions. Stir together with a wooden spoon. Put the pot on high heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Transfer to the oven and cook, covered, until the pork is tender and easily shreds, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Once done, shred the pork in the Dutch oven with a pair of tongs or 2 forks.
• Turn the oven up to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the remaining 2 cups salsa verde and sour cream in a wide, medium bowl. Spread about 1/2 cup of the mixture on the bottom of a large rectangular casserole dish.
• Wrap the tortillas up in a damp paper towel and microwave 40 seconds. Lay the warm tortillas out on your cutting board. Dip into the sour cream-salsa mixture and fill evenly with the shredded pork mixture and sprinkle of the cheese. Roll the enchilada up and place seam-side down in the baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the top and top with the rest of the cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if using.

QUESO PORK ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, combine 3/4 cup queso dip, 1/2 cup enchilada sauce, green chilies, water and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes., Spread 2/3 cup sauce mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Stir pork into remaining sauce mixture. Place 1/3 cup pork mixture down the center of each tortilla; top with 2 tablespoons cheese. Roll up and place seam side down in prepared dish. Combine remaining queso dip and enchilada sauce; pour over enchiladas., Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through. Serve with lettuce and tomatoes if desired. Freeze option: Sprinkle remaining cheese over unbaked casserole. Cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

ENCHILADAS ROJAS

Steps:

• Toast chiles in a dry medium skillet over medium-high until fragrant and blistered, 1 to 2 minutes a side. Wipe skillet clean. Remove and discard chile stems and seeds; transfer chiles to a bowl. Cover with 3 cups hot water and let soak 15 minutes. Remove chiles, reserving liquid.
• Blend chiles, cinnamon, clove, oregano, thyme, peppercorns, sesame seeds, peanuts, onion, and 1 1/2 cups reserved liquid until smooth. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in skillet over medium-high. Add sauce and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, 5 minutes. Add 1 cup reserved liquid; bring to a boil. Season with salt; keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in another skillet over medium. Gently fry tortillas one at a time, using 1 tablespoon oil for every 3 tortillas, until pliable, about 30 seconds a side. Remove each with tongs, letting oil drip back into skillet, and dip into sauce, turning to fully coat. Transfer to a plate.
• Place a heaping 1/4 cup carnitas in center of a tortilla. Roll tightly and place, seam-side down, in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas, arranging them in dish in 2 rows. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas. Top with queso fresco, onion, jalapeno, and cilantro; serve.

PORK ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine cooked pork, enchilada sauce, onion powder, 1/2 cup sour cream, green chilies, and one cup of the shredded cheese in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together tomato soup, remaining 1/2 cup sour cream, garlic powder, and cumin.
• Pour a thin layer of the tomato soup mixture into a 9x13 baking dish. Spread pork mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll tortillas to enclose filling; place seam side down in the baking dish. Pour the remaining soup mixture over the filled tortillas. Top with the remaining 1 cup cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes.