The History and Flavor of Enchiladas Suizas
Enchiladas Suizas are a very famous food from Mexico. The name means “Swiss Enchiladas” in Spanish. This dish combines soft corn tortillas, savory chicken, tangy green salsa, and lots of melted cheese. Even though the name mentions Switzerland, the dish was created in Mexico City. It gets its special name because it uses a large amount of milk, cream, and cheese. This article will look at the history, the ingredients, and the steps to make this classic Mexican comfort food.
The Origin of the Dish
The story of Enchiladas Suizas began in the early 1900s in Mexico City. Two brothers from America named Walter and Frank Sanborn opened a soda fountain and drug store. Over time, their business grew into a famous restaurant chain called Sanborns. The restaurant was located inside a beautiful historic building covered in blue and white tiles.
The chefs at Sanborns wanted to create a new dish for their guests. They took traditional Mexican enchiladas and added a lot of dairy to the recipe. Some stories say that the chef added heavy cream to the green salsa because it was too spicy for some customers. Others say the owner thought the white melted cheese looked like the snow on top of the Swiss Alps. Because Switzerland is famous for its high-quality milk and cheese, the dish was named “Suizas.” The meal became a huge success and is still the most famous item on the Sanborns menu today.
Key Ingredients
A classic plate of Enchiladas Suizas has four main parts. Each part adds a different texture and flavor to the meal.
- The Corn Tortillas: Traditional recipes use corn tortillas. They are lightly fried in hot oil for a few seconds before rolling. This step is important because it stops the tortillas from getting soggy and breaking apart under the heavy sauce.
- The Chicken Filling: The inside of the tortilla is usually stuffed with seasoned, shredded chicken breast. Many people use leftover rotisserie chicken to save time.
- The Creamy Green Sauce: This is the most important part of the dish. The sauce is made by cooking green tomatillos, onions, garlic, cilantro, and green serrano chiles. Then, the ingredients are blended with rich Mexican crema or heavy cream to make a thick, smooth sauce.
- The Melted Cheese: The top of the dish is covered with a thick layer of white melting cheese. Common choices include Chihuahua cheese, Oaxaca cheese, or Monterey Jack.
How to Prepare the Meal
Making Enchiladas Suizas at home is fun and easy. First, you need to make the green sauce by boiling the tomatillos and chiles until they are soft. Next, you blend them with garlic, cilantro, and cream until the color turns into a beautiful light green.
After making the sauce, you warm up the corn tortillas in a little bit of oil. You fill each warm tortilla with shredded chicken, roll them tightly, and asuderestaurant.com place them side-by-side in a baking pan. Finally, you pour the rich green sauce all over the rolled tortillas. You sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top. The pan goes into a hot oven until the cheese is melted, golden brown, and bubbly.
Enchiladas Suizas are a wonderful blend of spicy Mexican chiles and smooth, rich European dairy. It remains a beloved comfort food for families all around the world.
