su-Enchiladas Suizas
Photo: Alex Farnum
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins

These decadent enchiladas are named “Swiss” because of all the cream and cheese they contain. The recipe is generally credited to a Mexico City coffee shop called Sanborns. This version is from Silvana Salcido Esparza, chef-owner of Barrio Café and Barrio Queen in Tucson.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Make sauce: Preheat broiler with rack on rung closest to heat. Set tomatillos on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning once, until blackened, 10 minutes. Purée in a blender. Measure 3/4 cup and set aside. Set oven to 350°.

Step 2
2

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then add shallot and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until shallot starts to brown, 1 minute. Immediately add wine and reduce until almost gone, 2 minutes. Stir in cream, tomatillo purée, and sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 5 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickly coats a metal spoon, 3 to 5 more minutes. Set aside.

Step 3
3

Make enchiladas: Heat 2 large frying pans over medium-high heat. In first pan, pour 1/4 in. oil and heat until shimmering. Working with 1 tortilla at a time, cook in dry pan, turning once, until softened, 10 to 20 seconds, then in oil, turning once, until puffy and softened but not crisp, 10 to 15 seconds. Arrange in a single layer on paper towels.

Step 4
4

Lay tortillas flat on a work surface. Arrange chicken and queso fresco down the centers. Roll closed and set, seams down, in a 9- by 13-in. baking dish (with no sauce on the bottom). Pour sauce over enchiladas; top with Oaxaca cheese.

Step 5
5

Bake until cheese melts and sauce is bubbling, 20 minutes.

Step 6
6

Garnish with queso fresco, cilantro, onion, and a drizzle of crema (from a squeeze bottle, if you have one). Add chorizo if you like and serve with salsa.

Step 7
7

*Find at Latino markets.

Ingredients

  TOMATILLO CREAM SAUCE
 3/4 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed
 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
 1 tablespoon minced shallot
 2 thyme sprigs
 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
 1/2 teaspoon pepper
 1/4 cup dry white wine
 1 pt. heavy whipping cream
 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  ENCHILADAS
  Vegetable oil
 8 white corn tortillas (7 in.)
 2 cups thinly sliced cooked chicken breasts
 8 ounces queso fresco*, crumbled
 4 ounces Oaxaca cheese*, pulled into shreds
  GARNISHES
 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco*
 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
 1/4 cup crema*, thinned with a little milk, if needed, so it's pourable
 8 ounces chorizo or longaniza, removed from casings, crumbled, and cooked; optional
  Pico de gallo

Directions

Step 1
1

Make sauce: Preheat broiler with rack on rung closest to heat. Set tomatillos on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning once, until blackened, 10 minutes. Purée in a blender. Measure 3/4 cup and set aside. Set oven to 350°.

Step 2
2

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then add shallot and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until shallot starts to brown, 1 minute. Immediately add wine and reduce until almost gone, 2 minutes. Stir in cream, tomatillo purée, and sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 5 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickly coats a metal spoon, 3 to 5 more minutes. Set aside.

Step 3
3

Make enchiladas: Heat 2 large frying pans over medium-high heat. In first pan, pour 1/4 in. oil and heat until shimmering. Working with 1 tortilla at a time, cook in dry pan, turning once, until softened, 10 to 20 seconds, then in oil, turning once, until puffy and softened but not crisp, 10 to 15 seconds. Arrange in a single layer on paper towels.

Step 4
4

Lay tortillas flat on a work surface. Arrange chicken and queso fresco down the centers. Roll closed and set, seams down, in a 9- by 13-in. baking dish (with no sauce on the bottom). Pour sauce over enchiladas; top with Oaxaca cheese.

Step 5
5

Bake until cheese melts and sauce is bubbling, 20 minutes.

Step 6
6

Garnish with queso fresco, cilantro, onion, and a drizzle of crema (from a squeeze bottle, if you have one). Add chorizo if you like and serve with salsa.

Step 7
7

*Find at Latino markets.

Enchiladas Suizas

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