But that all changed when some friends of ours made us some for dinner one evening and the flavor and simplicity of the dish blew me away. I’ve been itching to veganize it ever since.
Origins of Chilaquiles
“Chilaquiles” is an ancient Aztec word meaning “chilis and greens”. And its believed that the dish dates back to Central Mexico and early Aztec times. Chilaquiles became popular throughout Mexico and are thought to have been introduced to the US by a 1989 cookbook called “The Spanish Cook.” The following is our inspired, plant-based version of this delicious dish! You can find a more traditional recipe here from Mexico in My Kitchen.
How to Make Chilaquiles
The base for this dish is a hearty 5-ingredient sauce, which comes together fast and is not only flavorful, but also incredibly versatile. While it’s perfect in this dish, I also suspect it would be amazing on enchiladas, tofu scrambles, and more. I can’t wait to experiment with other uses. Traditional chilaquiles recipes typically involve chips or fried tortilla strips, stir fried in a rich tomato-adobo* sauce and topped with chicken, eggs and cheese. But this version remains vegan friendly yet still amazingly flavorful. Plus, it’s considerably healthier thanks to DIY baked tortilla chips. *Note: you can learn about the origins of adobo sauce and where to find it here. This dish only takes 30 minutes to prepare, and is super satisfying with 16 grams of protein per serving. I love it for breakfast, but it would also make the perfect brunch or even weeknight dinner. John and I attempted to split this skillet for lunch and couldn’t even finish it all! It was so filling and fresh and most importantly, husband-approved. What does it taste like? I’m glad you asked. It’s: SavorySpicySaucySlightly crispyRichComfortingHealthySatisfying& Fast Top this dish with some fresh cilantro, onion and Vegan Mexican “Parmesan” Cheese for another wave of freshness and flavor. In my opinion, this step is a must. I think you guys are going to LOVE this dish. If you give it a try, be sure to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram or @minimalistbaker on Twitter so we can see! We love seeing what you guys cook up. Alternatively, Pin it to save for later. Cheers!
