The difference between the typical Protestant casserole and a really great casserole is time and quality. If you make your tortillas from scratch, and grind your own poultry, and use high quality cheeses and fresh herbs, then it's no longer "just" a casserole, it's comfort food full of fabulousness.
Soak and boil 2 cups of dried beans until done (makes about 5 cups cooked beans)
Make 20 homemade tortillas using this recipe. You can experiment with whole wheat to make these more healthy.
Grind or finely chop 10 organic chicken thighs (bones removed)
Cook the ground chicken in a Tbsp of canola or olive oil with:
4 cloves garlic
1 onion, chopped
1 T ground dried sweet chili pepper, seeds removed
2 T finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
1/2 bunch chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp ground cumin
salt & pepper to taste
Smash about half of the beans and add all the beans to the cooked chicken. Cook for a few minutes more. Adjust seasonings.
Layer 15 of the tortillas in a 9 x 13" casserole dish with:
The chicken-bean mixture
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup jack cheese
5 chopped tomatoes including juice and seeds
A bit of your favorite picante sauce (optional)
Cook at 350ºF for about 45 minutes to an hour. Cut and serve with salsa, fresh sour cream, guacamole, olives, lettuce, hot pepper sauce, etc.
PS: my teenagers ate this before I had a chance to take a photo of the finished product. I guess that means it was a success!
1 comment:
I like my homemade tortillas much better than the store bought! This looks delicious!
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