Not Frying Your Tortillas For Enchiladas Is Your Biggest Mistake - The Daily Meal (2024)

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Not Frying Your Tortillas For Enchiladas Is Your Biggest Mistake - The Daily Meal? ›

That little bit of frying not only brings out the flavor of the tortilla as it caramelizes the sugars to complement the savory filling, but this process also hardens the tortilla slightly, meaning it won't absorb too much moisture and fall apart.

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

It's important to pre-cook the tortillas because not only does cooking them help soften them for rolling, cooking them in a little fat helps develop the flavor of the tortillas. As the tortillas brown a little, remove them to a plate.

Warm the tortillas in the microwave before filling themYou can try this as an alternate to frying your flour tortillas in oil: just put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds before filling them with your enchilada toppings.

The quick fry does a couple of things.

Second, it adds flavor; the sugar in the tortilla starts to caramelize and the proteins brown. Finally, it adds richness from the oil. But don't stress about the oil—tortillas actually don't soak up too much of it, so your enchiladas won't seem heavy.

To use the oven to soften your tortillas, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once heated, wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and place them in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until they are warm and pliable enough to roll.

Heat the griddle on medium high heat until a drop of water sprinkled on the surface, bubbles and bounces around. Put tortillas on the hot griddle and cook on both sides just until the tortilla is soft and pliable.

Don't settle for the same old, same old tortillas. CHI-CHI'S® Enchilada Style Tortillas Flour & Corn are the ideal way to wrap up your next batch of enchiladas.

Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving. Serve and enjoy!

Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels or a damp kitchen towel, then wrap in plastic wrap or place in a microwave-safe resealable plastic bag (keep the bag open to vent). Microwave until warm and flexible, about 1 minute.

How do you soften tortillas without frying them? ›

Place 3-4 tortillas at a time on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a slightly damp paper towel. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, then set aside until ready to serve.

You can make these enchiladas with either flour or corn tortillas. My favorite brand of flour tortillas are the Tortilla Land or Fresca brand of uncooked flour tortillas. You cook them fresh at home, in a skillet.

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

Some recipes suggest spreading a little sauce (½ cup for a 3-quart baking dish) on the bottom of the pan before adding enchiladas. This keeps the tortillas from sticking to the pan or getting tough on the bottom.

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Oh, and I should note that I always use the Tortilla Land flour tortillas to make them. They are so soft and really make the enchiladas I think. I always buy mine at Costco but they also sell them at these stores. They are uncooked and you cook them yourself at home.

Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels or a damp kitchen towel, then wrap in plastic wrap or place in a microwave-safe resealable plastic bag (keep the bag open to vent). Microwave until warm and flexible, about 1 minute.