Main Ingredients:

See below ingredients and instructions of the recipe

Cooking Preparation of the Recipe:

2 lb Ground beef, 2 1/2 C Enchilada sauce
-extra-lean (as -(2 standard cans)
-little fat as possible) 1 lb Cheddar cheese,
2 md Onions, chopped -sharp, grated
4 T Flour

PREPARE SAUCE AND FILLING: Brown ground beef and 1 chopped onion in a
large skillet. There should be enough fat in the beef to eliminate any need
for extra oil and also to saute the onions at the same time. While you are
browning the beef (it should be completely cooked with no pink or red color
left), be sure to break it up so that it is granular in texture, as opposed
to chunky, when completely browned. Onions should be limp and translucent
but not brown.

Add about 4 T of flour and saute until flour is completely incorporated
into the meat mixture. Add the enchilada sauce. Heat over low heat. If the
mixture is too thick, add a little water. The consistency should be that
of a thick gravy, but not soupy. Simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes.

PREPARE ROLLED ENCHILADAS: Rolled enchiladas are tougher to assemble, but
more authentic. Have ready a large baking pan, we always use an oblong
Pyrex pan. One at a time, dip each tortilla in the enchilada sauce just
enough to coat and slightly soften. Lay the tortilla flat in the baking
pan, spoon about 3 T of the enchilada sauce in a line down the middle, top
with about 1 t chopped onion and about 3 T of grated cheese.

Roll the tortilla tightly into a cylinder with the seam on the bottom, and
position against the bottom edge of the baking pan. Repeat until the pan
is full. This can get tricky (but it is possible) as the pan gets full.
Assembling the enchilada outside of the pan is usually a messy disaster.
Depending on the size of the pan and how tightly each enchilada is rolled,
you can get 8-12 enchiladas in a pan. This recipe should make about 16-24
enchiladas.

Spoon enchilada sauce over the assembled enchiladas to thinly cover.
Sprinkle generously with grated cheese. Bake at 425 degrees F. for 20
minutes.

PREPARE STACKED ENCHILADAS: This is the New Mexico style. It is much
easier to assemble. Have plates ready. One at a time, submerge each
tortilla in the enchilada sauce (which should be cooking on low heat during
this process) and cook until limp but not falling apart, this may take a
little practice to gauge the time.

Remove the tortilla from the sauce and place flat on a plate. Spoon a
little sauce, including meat, over the tortilla, add about 1 T chopped
onion and about 4 T grated cheese. Repeat the process until you have a
stack of 3-4 tortillas on a plate, depending on the appetite of the person
who will eat them. Top the last tortilla with a generous amount of sauce
and cheese. Serve immediately.

The fundamental difference between these two styles is the method used to
cook the tortillas. In the rolled style, the sauce is cooked into the
tortilla through the baking process. In the stacked style, the tortilla is
cooked directly in the sauce. Only the appearance differs, the taste is the
same with either style.

NOTES:

* Central Texas style Mexican enchiladas -- We cook beef enchiladas in two
ways, the traditional rolled enchilada and the easier-to-cook New Mexico
stacked style. Both procedures are given. Also, we used to cook the
enchilada sauce/chili from scratch but more recently began using a shortcut
with canned Old El Paso brand enchilada sauce, since it is not only faster
(20 minutes vs. 4+ hours) but also has a very authentic spice combination.
Yield: Serves 6-8.

* I always use Old El Paso canned enchilada sauce, though it is possible
to make your own.

: Difficulty: moderate.
: Time: 1 hour.
: Precision: approximate measurement OK.

: Pamela McGarvey
: UCLA Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
: {ihnp4!sdcrdcf,ucbvax!ucla-cs,hao}!cepu!pam

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