The last time we were in Santa Fe, we went out for a daylong drive to explore the area, looking for small churches, towns, or just places of interest. For me, it was about taking photos; for Markipedia, it was about discovering the history.
Midday, when our stomachs were growling, we stopped at a small traditional New Mexican takeout restaurant. We were in the process of ordering something (seriously, I cannot remember what) and it was offered with red or green chile sauce. As we waffled about which kind to get, the woman behind the counter said, “You can always do it Christmas-style — half red, half green.”
Neither of us had ever encountered that terminology, but it made perfect sense. Of course, we opted for the Christmas-style. While I can’t remember what we had, I do remember it being really good.
And it inspired me to create these chicken enchiladas. I don’t use two sauces, as we had in New Mexico, but created one sauce with two colors of peppers. By no means is this authentic, but it is very tasty. And what better time for New Mexico Christmas Chile Enchiladas than, well, Christmastime!
~ David
Christmas Chile Enchiladas
To print the recipe, please click the small printer icon below.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion
- 6 green chiles – roasted, peeled, seeded, diced
- 3 red bell peppers – roasted, peeled, seeded, diced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup cream
- •
- 1 1/2 pounds cooked, shredded chicken breasts or thighs
- 12 blue corn tortillas (or white or yellow corn)
- ancho chile powder, as needed
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- sour cream, diced tomatoes, and diced avocados for garnish
- cilantro leaves, for garnish (optional)
- sliced black olives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in green chiles, red bell peppers, and flour; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander. Add in chicken broth and cream, stirring until smooth. Allow to simmer 10 additional minutes until thickened.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil one oven-proof casserole or 6 individual dishes.
- Heat tortillas (in some hot oil, or in the oven, or microwave – as you prefer). Place some shredded chicken in a line at the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle with ancho chile powder, top with a tablespoon or so of grated cheese, then roll, and place in the casserole dish(es) with the seam side down.
- Repeat for remaining tortillas. Spoon Christmas chile enchilada sauce over the tortillas (about 3/4 cup per individual casserole), then top with cheese (about 1/3 cup per individual casserole). Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and continue the red and green theme by by topping with diced tomatoes and avocados. If you like cilantro, you can add some of that, too!
© 2024 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Jeff the Chef
December 17, 2022 at 8:59 amI love thinking of the green and red combination as Christmas, espeically because I think that when you serve eggs this way, it’s called Huevos Divorciados! But I’d much rather think of it as a Christmas style, so thank you for that. Beyond that, you have such a way of making everything you cook look so beautiful. I’m sure Markipedia knows that he’s one lucky guy!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:13 amUntil this post, I had never heard of divoriadas, Jeff. But both you and Frank mentioned it. I will have to keep an eye out for it… thank you so much for your truly kind words, Jeff. Wikipedia is, indeed, very complementary of my work and play. I’m a lucky guy…
Mad Dog
December 17, 2022 at 11:03 amSounds delicious! Merry Christmas!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:11 amThanks, MD! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
December 17, 2022 at 12:59 pmLooks very pretty! And sounds delicious, too.
I wonder if there’s anything like this in Mexico? The closest thing I know of is the enchiladas “divorciadas”—one green and one red. But then I’m certainly not expert, just curious…
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:11 amYou are the second person to mansion divorciadas — something I haven’t seen.
Eha
December 17, 2022 at 3:08 pmAm always delighted to read recipes like this as cooking ‘your way’ is by far my weakest link ! Well I cannot buy blue tortillas or any Mexican cheeses here but easy substitutions should not detract from your offering 😉 ! Shall report back meanwhile hoping the pre-Yule period is an interesting one for you . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:08 amThere are so many good substitutes for those Mexican ingredients — but it is rea;;y easy to make corn tortillas as long as you can get some masa harina.
Chef Mimi
December 17, 2022 at 4:27 pmWonderful. I thought you meant you were going to mix the red and green together. 😳 I should have known better! I love both, my husband isn’t fond of tomatillos, so it’s usually red here. Ooops, I just noticed you didn’t use tomatillos. anyway, I love all of these flavors. And I love the toppings!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:07 amThe guest for whom I made these is not a fan of tomatillos, either. Just using the Chiles worked nicely.
sherry
December 17, 2022 at 5:51 pmyay! christmas-style! this looks delish david. I do love me some capsicum (bell pepper)! I think we aussies are the only creatures on the planet to call them thus. Not even the Brits do it :=)
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:06 amWe sometimes use capsicum here because of Markipedia.
sherry
December 17, 2022 at 5:51 pmP.S. Your posts demand I type my website address in manually these days and I am way tooooo lazy so I leave it. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:05 amI don’t think you need to include time website, Sherry — at least I hope not!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
December 17, 2022 at 9:45 pmThis looks and sounds healthy and inviting and even quite festive. Happy Enchiladas season… I mean Happy Holiday season! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:05 amDefinitely Happy Enchiladas Season, Ben!
Pauline
December 18, 2022 at 2:39 amWell if anyone can make great enchilada it’s people living near Mexico, and love the idea of the red and green theme for Christmas,. Lots of capsicum , chillies, cheese, you can’t go wrong. I feel like some Mexican.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:04 amYou really can’t go wrong, Pauline! I’m so lucky to live here!
Ronit
December 18, 2022 at 3:11 pm“A bit of this and that” is my motto in cooking, so obviously I’m all for this tasty “solution”, especially when it’s so colorful and perfect for the season. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:02 amI think that is the way most of us cooks roll, Ronit!
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
December 18, 2022 at 4:33 pmLooks delicious and I bet full of flavor! Since you were in New Mexico, I guess you could have used Hatch green chiles since I believe they are ‘native’ to New Mexico. And blue tortillas? Never tried them but you’ve piqued my curiosity- must now try them!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 9:01 amI did use Hatch chiles — bought a bunch in hatch and froze them, but Hatch chiles are readily available here when they are in season.
Ron
December 20, 2022 at 12:53 amDavid, you hit my food weakness with this one. Having been raised eating Tex-Mex, I love this type of dish. For me, Mexican food and Christmas always went hand-in-hand as every Christmas Eve we always had Mexican food, often from a local Mexican food joint. Alas, we have no decent Mexican joints here, so we’ve gotten out of that tradition. But, your recipe has inspired me to get back into the tradition.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 8:59 amCorn tortillas are so easy to make at home — you could definitely make this for you and Eva! I keep forgetting your roots – there was no Tex-Mex for me growing up. No Asian either. No wonder I love them both now!
2pots2cook
December 20, 2022 at 6:30 amIt’s quite cold here and this bowl of comfort food would just make fine week dinner!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 8:56 amI hope it gets warmer soon, Davorka. I worry about my European friends this winter.
Raymund
December 22, 2022 at 4:21 pmWow, this is one vibrant enchiladas, definitely a comfort dish. Merry Christmas BTW to you and your family
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 8:50 amMerry Christmas to you and your family, too, Raymund. Glad you like the enchiladas!
Amy McIntyre
December 26, 2022 at 9:56 amMade this in vegetarian version for Christmas dinner–delish!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 26, 2022 at 10:15 amI’m so glad you liked them — the filling is secondary to the incredible sauce, I think. Merry Christmas to you, Bill, Nora, and Daniel!
Valentina
December 29, 2022 at 2:23 pmChristmas-style! I love that for an enchilada. These sound and look so comforting and delicious for any holiday, or just any day. 🙂 ~Valentina
Valentina
December 29, 2022 at 2:26 pmNot sure this went through the first time, so sorry if you’re getting it twice.
I love that this is a “Christmas-style” enchilada. I would love them on any holiday — or just any day! They sound so comforting and delicious! 🙂 ~Valentina