Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish consisting mainly of corn tortillas cut into pieces and fried, which are then mixed with red or green sauce and served with various ingredients such as shredded chicken, onion, cheese, cream, avocado and eggs.

Origin

Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish, with roots dating back to pre-Hispanic times.

It is believed that chilaquiles may have their origins in Mesoamerican indigenous cuisine, where ingredients such as corn tortillas and chillies were staples in the diet of cultures such as the Aztecs and Mayans.

The term ‘chilaquiles’ comes from Nahuatl, one of the indigenous languages spoken in Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish.

The word ‘chilaquiles’ is derived from the combination of ‘chīlāquilitl’, which means ‘herb or tender chili plant’ and ‘atli’, which translates as ‘water’.

Over time, chilaquiles have become a very popular dish in Mexico and have been adapted in different regions of the country, resulting in variations in ingredients and preparation.

Ingredients to prepare Mexican Chilaquiles

Here is a list of basic ingredients to prepare Mexican chilaquiles:

• Corn tortillas (can be fresh or a little hardened)
• Salsa roja or verde (you can make it at home or buy it ready-made)
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Salt to taste

Optional to add more flavour and variety:

1. Shredded chicken
2. Chopped onion
3. Fresh shredded cheese
4. Mexican cream
5. Sliced avocado
6. Eggs

How to make Mexican Chilaquiles

Instructions

Preparation of the tortillas:

• Cut the tortillas into triangles or strips.
• Fry the tortillas in hot oil until golden brown and crispy. Remove excess oil with paper towels and season with salt to taste.

Preparation of the sauce:

• If you are using purchased salsa, simply heat it in a saucepan. If you are using homemade salsa, heat it in the same container you prepared it in.
• Add the tortilla chips to the hot salsa and mix well to soak up the salsa.

Optional additions:

• If you want to add shredded chicken, chopped onion or other ingredients, add them to the tortilla and salsa mixture and mix well.

Serving:

• Serve the chilaquiles on individual plates and garnish with crumbled queso fresco, crema Mexicana, sliced avocado and any other garnishes you like.
• You can serve the chilaquiles with fried or scrambled eggs if you like.

That’s it! Now you can enjoy some Chilaquiles, but if you want to enjoy some in the purest Mexican style we recommend you to visit our Mexican restaurants in Centro.

At Taqueria de Birra we are experts in tacos and Mexican food since 1989. Come and taste some quality tacos or order them for pick up or delivery at our premises in C/ Don Pedro, 11 or Plaza de las Comendadoras, 2.