QUESO FUNDIDO CON HONGOS Y CHILE CHIPOTLE (MOZZARELLA CASSEROLE WITH MUSHROOMS AND SMOKY CHIPOTLE CHILE)

Queso Fundido con Hongos y Chile Chipotle (Mozzarella Casserole with Mushrooms and Smoky Chipotle Chile) image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 12 soft tacos, serving 6 as an

Number Of Ingredients 9

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1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, preferably extra-virgin
1 large red onion, sliced
6 to 8 ounces full-flavored mushrooms such as shiitakes, oysters or practically any wild variety, stemmed (discard woody stems or chop them finely) and sliced (you'll have about 2 generous cups)
2 to 3 canned chipotle chiles, removed from the canning sauce, seeded and thinly sliced
Salt
12 corn tortillas, the fresher the better (store-bought are okay, though homemade will really shine here)
8 ounces mozzarella, preferably whole milk (but not "fresh" mozzarella which will not melt) or Mexican quesillo cheese, shredded
A generous 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 generous teaspoon chopped fresh epazote leaves
A little fresh ground black pepper

Steps:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet (preferably non-stick), heat the oil over medium-high. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softening and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and stir nearly constantly until they have softened and any juice they release has evaporated, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the sliced chile, then taste and season with salt, usually about 1/4 teaspoon. Transfer the mixture to a 9- or 10-inch shallow baking dish, Mexican cazuela or pie plate. Very lightly dampen a clean kitchen towel. Check the tortillas to make sure none are stuck together. Wrap them in the towel, then in foil, sealing the edges tightly. Place in the oven and set the timer for 7 minutes. When the timer goes off, stir the shredded cheese into the warm mushroom mixture. Set in the oven alongside the tortillas and bake until the cheese is just melted, about 5 more minutes. Sprinkle with the thyme or epazote and black pepper and serve without a moment's hesitation, accompanied by the warm tortillas.