Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Enchilada Pie

The problem is that I make most things with no recipe. I use recipes as guidelines for an idea I have in my head. I like making Enchilada Pie because it is easy, tastes yummy and can be made ahead and be refrigerated for a few days ahead of time.

Ingredients & Directions
(quantities are approximate)

Serves 6 - more or less depending on how much you eat at once!

Saute together in a large skillet
  • 1 lb of ground meat (your preference as to type)
  • Seasoned with garlic salt, black pepper to taste
  • Add 2 or 3 Tablespoons of ground red chili powder and
  • 1 Tablespoon of ground cumin or more if using cumin or cumino seeds
  • 1/2 of a diced yellow or white onion (optional)
When meat is cooked, add

  • 1 to 2 14oz. cans of diced tomatoes including the juice
  • 1 14oz can of tomato sauce
Simmer - 5 to 20 minutes or so

Now you will need a baking dish -
I usually use a 2 1/2 quart pyrex dish that is square 7" by 7" and 4" deep

You will also need:
  • 1 pkg of 12 corn tortillas
  • shredded cheddar cheese - 1 1/2 to 2 cups - more or less
  • 1 small can of diced or sliced olives (optional)

Cover the bottom of the baking dish with a thin layer of meat sauce.
The add a layer of tortillas
Cover tortillas with another layer of sauce
Then a layer of cheese sprinkled with the olives.
Continue layering until all ingredients are used.
The top layer should be a generous covering of cheese with a few olives for garnish.

Add a 1/4 to 1/3 can of water (I use the tomato sauce can to help get the very last out of it)
- pouring it carefully around the edges of the the tortillas by the sides of the dish.

Bake in 325 degree oven (glass dishes) - 350 for metal uncovered about 45 minutes or until hot, bubbly and slightly brown.

Good served with a green salad

Enjoy!
Love, Mom

1 comment:

Nicole Patterson said...

I love this echilada recipe and serve it frequently to guests. In the spirit of innovation, I've tried some variations that are quite good.
- Chopping the tortillas in 1-2 inch squares makes this easier to eat...and I've also used flour tortillas
- I cheat and buy canned encilada sauce and just pour it over the meat that I "sprinkle" in the pan. This also allows me to do more layers (I just don't do meat on each one) so the casserole is deeper and can serve more people.
- A friend recently mixed the ground beef with retried beans and spread that on top of the tortillas. It tasted great...and I was pleased to find you can buy "healthy" refried beans with no lard or additives.

Thanks, Auntie Lyn, for this recipe...it's one that I use all the time!