Category: TEXMEX / CAJUN / CUBAN

STACKED SUIZA CHICKEN ENCHILADAS with PICKLED RED ONIONS serves 2

I absolutely LOVE trying new recipes. Suiza is just the Spanish word for Swiss. I generally cook something BRAND NEW 85% of the time! So combining out of the norm flavors helps keep everything interesting and leads to some wonderful new combinations. Like Molly I combine flavors based on my likes, NOT based on their cultural origins. We used to live near a Mexican restaurant that had the most amazing food, was family run, but had THE grumpiest servers (all part of the family). EVERY time they hired a new hostess/cashier we’d all take bets on how long she’d last because they were ALWAYS cute and perky! 😀 Anyway, they had THE best Suiza chicken enchiladas and that is what this recipe reminds me of. The mozzarella is a much creamier cheese than the standard jack or cheddar normally used in this style recipe. The pickled red onion cut the richness of the ultra creamy cheese and give it a tangy finish.

Adapted from Molly Krueger at Marley Spoon

FRESH ground sea salt & ground pepper
pinch sugar
avocado oil
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas
¼ ounce chorizo chili spice blend
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon BETTER THAN BOUILLON chicken concentrate
1/2 cup chicken bone broth
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 ounces green enchilada sauce
1/2 cup chicken bone broth
2 tablespoons chopped  FRESH cilantro,
1 poblano pepper, char roasted, stemmed, seeded and sliced thin
1 medium red onion, sliced thin
1 cup grated mozzarella
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
sour cream, for garnish

• Preheat oven to 450° with a rack in the upper third.
• Pick cilantro leaves from stems; finely chop the stems and reserve whole leaves. 

In small bowl, combine ¼ cup of the sliced onion with 1 tablespoon vinegar and a pinch of sugar and FRESH ground salt and pepper. Set aside, but stir occasionally, until needed.
• In a measuring cup, stir to combine the enchilada sauce, broth concentrate, and chicken broth.
• Set sauce aside.
  
• Pat chicken dry.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
• Generously season chicken with sea salt and ground pepper.
• Add chicken and cook until chicken is seared and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board.
  
• Shred chicken with 2 forks.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-high.
• Add poblano pepper slices, remaining sliced onions, and a pinch each of FRESH ground sea salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until veggies are softened and browned in spots, 3–5 minutes.
• Stir in all of the chorizo chili spice blend and cilantro stems; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Transfer veggies to bowl with chicken; stir to combine.


• Off the heat, pour ¼ cup sauce into same skillet.
• Layer 2 tortillas on top, overlapping as necessary.
• Top with ¼ cup sauce, half of the filling, and ⅓ of the cheese.
• Repeat with 2 more tortillas, ¼ cup sauce, remaining filling, and ⅓ of the cheese.
• Top with remaining tortillas, sauce, and cheese.


Lightly oil foil; cover skillet with oiled side.
• Bake on upper oven rack until cheese is melted and tortillas are warmed through, about 10 minutes.
• Uncover; switch oven to broil.
• Broil until cheese is browned on top, 2–3 minutes, depending on your broiler.
• Remove from oven; let rest for 5 minutes.
• Top enchiladas with whole cilantro leaves, sour cream salsa and pickled onions as desired.

NOTE: If you cannot find chorizo chile spice, make your own!

CHORIZO CHILE SPICE BLEND

1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons Ancho Chile powder
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon QUALITY ground cinnamon

• Break up a bay leaf into small pieces. Using a mortar and pestle grind it up a bit.
• Next add in the oregano and thyme and grind until finely ground.
• Measure and combine the remaining spices, along with the bay leaf, oregano and thyme in a container and stirring to combine.
• Store in a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid and store in dry, dark place for up to 6 months or longer.

I first saw this recipe for Chicken Lazone Pasta on Facebook and it looked mouth wateringly yummy, that I had to know more. As I began researching the original name, I found several different people had made versions, (some attributing it to Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans) that were great on their own, but it was when I married the best parts of both recipes together that I found my version to be fantastic and Chicken New Orleans was born. It really is a restaurant quality meal made at home with a rich, full bodied and full flavored creamy sauce.

One recipe used chicken tenders and another used full chicken breasts. I settled on thin cut chicken steaks as middle ground. One used granulated garlic and another FRESH garlic. I cut down the proportions of both and prefer the mixed flavor mediums. I also cut down the Creole seasoning a bit and increased the FRESH herbs. One called for linguine and another for fettuccine, but honestly any pasta you choose works well. I like Farfalle and Campagnelle, but I use what I have on hand. I also use WONDRA flour instead of all purpose because it is much finer and makes a smoother sauce.

CHICKEN NEW ORLEANS adapted from What’s in the Pan  and Slow Roasted Italian

Prep Time10 mins Cook Time20 mins Total Time30 mins
SEASONING
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons SLAP YOUR MAMA seasoning
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup WONDRA flour

• In a large ziploc bag, combine FRESH ground sea salt, black pepper, SLAP YOUR MAMA, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and flour.


CHICKEN
4-6 thin chicken steaks
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon butter

• Dredge the chicken in the seasoning mixture and shake off excess. Reserve any leftover spice/flour mix for the sauce.
• Preheat large cast iron skillet.
• Add avocado oil and melt butter over medium-high heat.
• Cook the chicken steaks 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

PASTA
1/2-3/4 pound pasta
1/4-1/2 cup Pasta water (reserve it)

• Boil pasta in salty water, drain, but do not rinse.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. If you think the sauce needs thinning, add reserved pasta water to the sauce. Add it slow – as much as you would like to have according to your liking.

SAUCE
4 tablespoons butter
Remaining seasoning mixture
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped tarragon leaves
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped flat leaf parsley
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped thyme leaves
2 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
1-2 teaspoons smoked Paprika
2 cups heavy cream

• Add butter to the empty skillet and add remaining seasoning mixture into the butter until cook it until golden and flour is no longer raw.
• Add more paprika and heavy cream into the skillet.
• Add MOST of the FRESH herbs to the sauce, but reserve a bit for garnish.
• Bring to a SLOW boiling point.
• Lower heat and simmer 3-4 minutes.
• Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning to your liking.

• Add cooked pasta into the sauce and stir until fully coated.
• Return chicken to the skillet, turning to coat with sauce well.
• Sprinkle with remaining chopped herbs.