Chow Down Chimichangas Recipes

ALMOST-FAMOUS CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Melt the butter with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet; transfer to a bowl. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the skillet. Add the onion, garlic and jalapeno and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon salt; toast 30 seconds. Add the tomato and cilantro and cook until slightly dry, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken and sour cream and warm through. Remove from the heat.
• Brush a rimmed baking sheet with some of the butter-oil mixture. Spread 2 tablespoons refried beans down the center of each tortilla, leaving a 2-inch border on both ends. Top with 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Fold in the ends and roll up.
• Put the chimichangas seam-side down on the baking sheet; brush with the butter-oil mixture. Bake 8 to 10 minutes per side, brushing again after you flip. Top with the sauce, more cheese, lettuce and tomato. Serve with rice and the remaining beans.
• Saute onions and garlic cloves in a skillet with vegetable oil. Add a pinch each of chili powder, cumin, sugar and salt; cook 30 seconds. Stir in green chiles; cook 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer until thickened, then puree. Stir in cilantro.

CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• In a skillet, melt bacon grease over medium heat. Saute meat, onion, garlic, tomatoes, chilies and potatoes until the onion softens. Add salt, oregano, chili powder and cilantro; simmer 2-3 minutes. Place a scant 1/2 cup meat filling on each tortilla. Fold, envelope-style, like a burrito. Fry, seam side down, in 1/2 in. of hot oil. (360°-375°) until crispy and brown. Turn and brown other side. Drain briefly on a paper towel. Top as desired; serve immediately.

BEEF CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Brown the ground beef, onion, garlic, taco seasoning, and oregano in a skillet over medium heat, breaking the meat up into crumbles as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Drain off excess fat. Stir in sour cream, chilies, and vinegar until well mixed. Remove from heat, and mix in the Cheddar cheese.
• Melt margarine in a small skillet over low heat. When melted, dip each tortilla into the margarine for about 30 seconds, or until soft. Place the softened tortilla onto a baking sheet, and fill with about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture. Fold the right and left sides of the tortilla over the filling, then the top and bottom, making an envelope that completely encloses the filling. Flip the tortilla seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tortilla is crisp, about 15 minutes.

CHOW DOWN CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Combine meat, water, garlic, chilies, chili powder, vinegar, oregano, salt, cumin and pepper in a medium saucepan.
• Bring to boil.
• Cover and reduce heat and simmer for about 2 hours or until meat is very tender.
• Uncover and boil rapidly for about 15 minutes or until water is almost evaporated.
• Watch closely and stir near end of cooking time so meat doesn't stick.
• Remove from heat.
• Using 2 forks, shred meat very fine.
• Add a little of the green chili sauce to moisten if necessary.
• Warm tortillas wrapped in foil in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup meat mixture onto each tortilla, near one edge.
• Fold top and bottom edge over the meat filling.
• Fold the two sides in over filling.
• Secure with toothpicks.
• Fry filled tortillas in 1/2 inch hot oil or fat for 1 minute on each side or until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Keep warm in 300 degree oven while frying remaining chimichangas.
• To serve, ladle some green chili sauce over the chimichangas.
• Top with lettuce, sour cream and guacamole.
• Note: Unfried chimichangas can be made ahead and frozen for another meal if desired. Prepare as directed and freeze in freezer bags. Thaw and fry. The recommended chili sauce can also be frozen to go with your frozen chimichangas.

CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• FOR CHICKEN: ------------------ Place chicken into a large sauce pan. Pour in the water and season with chili powder, salt, cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder & cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, stir in 4 ounces of green chilies, onion and garlic; continue simmering until liquid has reduced to 1 cup. Remove chicken, shred with 2 forks and return to onion mixture. ------------------ FOR BEEF: ------------------ Place ground beef in a skillet and season with chili powder, salt, cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper & onion. Cook beef until cooked through. Add garlic and green chilies and cook for 2 more minutes. ------------------ SOUR CREAM SAUCE: ------------------ While oil is heating, In a small sauce pan melt butter over medium heat. Slowly stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute (mixture will be thick). SLOWLY whisk in the water 1/4 cup at a time, thoroughly incorporating all the water before adding more - your mixture will thicken up significantly and then thin out again. Add Bouillon cube and stir until dissolved. Whisk in reserved 3 ounces of chilies and sour cream. Set Aside Once meat of choice is cooked, heat oil in a deep fryer or large sauce pan until it reaches 375*F ------------------ TO FRY: ------------------ Heat oil to 375*F in a deep fryer or in a large sauce pan. Lay out one egg roll wrapper, diamond shaped so tip is facing the top. Spoon 2-3 Tabelspoons of filling into egg roll. Add a 2 Tablespoons of cheese on top of filling. Using a small cup of water and your finger, wet ALL edges of the egg roll wrapper. Roll according to package directions, sealing up edges as you go along. Once all egg rolls are prepared, slowly lower several chimichangas into hot oil with a pair of tongs. Don't crowd the pan. Cook chimichangas until golden on each side (about 1 minute per side). Remove from oil and place on a paper towel lined plate. Serve Immediately with sour cream sauce as a dip or poured over the top.