
Pronounced chee-lay-kee-yays, it is one of my absolutely favorite dishes. It takes a bit of doing to put together, but it's worth the effort — and actually keeps me from making it too often. Too much of a good thing, you know.
Measurements are approximate because that's how I cook. Try it a couple of times and you'll figure out what you need for your taste and style.
Ingredients
 |
Four chicken breasts. |
 |
Two 7-ounce cans of salsa verde (green salsa). |
| |
We're not talking jars of chip dip here. You'll find these little gems in the Mexican or ethnic-foods section of your grocery store. |
 |
One 8-ounce bag of shredded Monterey Jack or "Mexican Blend" cheese. |
 |
About four flour tortillas. |
| |
You can use corn tortillas if you prefer, but I recommend the flour variety. |
 |
You'll also need some cooking oil or a full Fry Daddy.
|
Cooking Directions
| 1. |
Cook your chicken breasts in the oven. I use the broiler to make a quick job of it, but you have to keep an eye on the chicken so that it doesn't burn. Make sure it's cooked thoroughly. No spices need to be added. |
| 2. |
When the chicken is done, shred it by scraping it with a fork. I use one fork to hold it down and another to do the shredding. |
| 3. |
Cut the tortillas into strips 1/2 inch to 1 inch wide. |
| 4. |
Heat some cooking oil in a pan or heat up your Fry Daddy. Fry the tortilla strips until golden. This shouldn't take long: 20 seconds to a minute depending on the temperature of the oil. |
| 5. |
Drain the cooked strips on paper towels. You don't want them oily. |
| 6. |
Heat your oven to 350 degrees. |
| 7. |
Lightly grease a casserole dish. Or not. |
| 8. |
Arrange a layer of tortilla strips on the bottom of the dish. |
| 9. |
Top that with a layer of shredded chicken. |
| 10. |
Top that with some salsa verde. You'll have to approximate how much to use so that you have enough left for the remaining layers. |
| 11. |
Top that with a layer of shredded cheese. |
| 12. |
Repeat until the casserole dish is full and/or you run out of chicken. You'll want at least two layers. I like three. |
| 13. |
Cook the whole shebango in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the top layer of cheese is melted and lightly browned. |
The servings as I describe them above should feed two with a side of refried beans or will provide the bachelor with a hearty dinner and a decent lunch the next day. If the dish is too spicy for you, use less salsa verde next time (wuss).
Best served with a cold Shiner Bock. (No, I didn't get paid for that.) Enjoy!
|