Are chilaquiles the same thing as nachos?

No. Chilaquiles are all about crisp chips coated in a flavorful sauce with the option to add other toppings. Nachos, on the other hand, get their flavor from a generous helping of queso and lots of toppings including meat, beans, salsa, guacamole, etc.

Are chilaquiles supposed to be crunchy?

We think the best ones are, but unless you have really thick tortilla chips, they'll soften a bit once the sauce has been added. The chips should still be fairly crisp though.

Why are my chilaquiles soggy?

Some recipes call for simmering the chips in the sauce, but that tends to make them limp which defeats the purpose of frying the tortillas. That's why we coat ours afterwards by tossing them in the already cooked sauce. If your chilaquiles are soggy, they may have soaked too long in the pan which is why we recommend giving them a quick toss then immediately transferring to a plate.

Can I use Italian oregano?

Unfortunately, no. We tried both and the Italian oregano just doesn't add the same flavor as the Mexican one does. This is a Mexican dish, so we highly recommend using the right herbs to go with it. Mexican oregano is also pretty easy to find. It should be in the spice section at most large grocery stores.

Chipotle Chilaquiles - Fanciful Eats

Name: Chipotle Chilaquiles
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 small Roma tomatoes; 1/4 medium yellow onion; 3 cloves garlic; 1/2 cup (125 ml) chicken broth; 1/4 cup (65 ml) olive oil; 1 1/4 tsp fine sea salt; 1/2 tsp Mexican oregano; 6 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce; 12 corn tortillas; 2 cups (500 ml) vegetable oil; 4 large eggs + 1 tbsp butter for frying; Grated Cotija, queso fresco, or Oaxaca cheese; Sour cream (preferably Mexican crema); Cilantro

Description

These chipotle chilaquiles are made with homemade tortilla chips tossed in a spicy chipotle adobo sauce. It has just the right amount of crispiness and is packed with tons of flavor and heat from the peppers. Great for a hearty breakfast or brunch!

Scale

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

2 small Roma tomatoes
1/4 medium yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup (125 ml) chicken broth
1/4 cup (65 ml) olive oil
1 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp Mexican oregano
6 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

For the Chips:

12 corn tortillas
2 cups (500 ml) vegetable oil

For Topping:

4 large eggs + 1 tbsp butter for frying
Grated Cotija, queso fresco, or Oaxaca cheese
Sour cream (preferably Mexican crema)
Cilantro

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F (235°C) and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the tomatoes in half and place them cut side up on the prepared baking sheet.
Add the onion to the sheet cut side up along with the garlic. Leave the skin on the garlic. Bake for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the chips by heating the vegetable oil in a medium sized pot or pan. Heat for 4 minutes on medium-high.
Line a large plate with paper towels.
Stack the tortillas and quarter them into triangles with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. You should have four stacks of triangles.
Reduce the heat of the oil to medium and add one stack at a time, dropping each chip individually into the oil. Fry for 2 minutes and push down into the oil if needed with a slotted frying strainer. Remove and place on the plate with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining stacks of tortillas and set aside.
By now, the onion, garlic, and tomato should be done so remove them from the oven and add them to an immersion blender or high-speed blender.
Add the chicken broth, olive oil, salt, Mexican oregano, and peppers. Blend until smooth and add to a large frying pan.*
Heat the sauce on medium for 6 minutes then reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 4 minutes.
Add the chips to the pan, tossing until they’re coated with sauce then quickly transfer them to a plate. You don’t want to leave them too long or they’ll get too soggy.
For the eggs, heat a non-stick pan on medium-high until it’s hot enough for a drop of water to sizzle. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 tbsp butter to the pan. Crack each egg into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.*
Top each plate of chilaquiles with an egg, cheese, sour cream, and cilantro. Enjoy!

Notes

For a smoother sauce, strain it with a fine mesh strainer before heating in the pan.

Eggs: To prevent the eggs from busting while cooking, place them in a ramekin then gently add them to the pan. This increases your chances of cooking a perfect egg that won’t break.

Nutrition information is only an estimate and does not include the toppings (except the eggs) and the oil used for frying.

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