Enchilasagna, or Tortilla Casserole

I recently made a couple of these large Mexican-ish casseroles for social events, and figured I’d share the recipe.

Beans

Olive oil
1 large or 2 medium yellow onions
Optional: a large mushroom, a carrot, a bell pepper
1-3 cloves garlic
Optional: basil, paprika, chili powder
3-4 cans black beans
Balsamic vinegar, salt

 

    • Heat a large pot and add the olive oil.
    • Chop the onion and saute.
    • As it softens, chop and add any other vegetables you may be using.
    • Finely grate or crush the garlic, and add it when the vegetables are softened, along with any spices you may be using.
    • Cook the garlic for a minute or so until it is fragrant and then add the beans.
    • Bring to a low boil and then turn down to simmer and cook for at least half an hour, stirring occasionally.
    • Add salt and balsamic vinegar to taste and leave at low simmer for at least another half hour, continuing to stir occasionally.

Sweet Peppers and Onions

Olive oil
1 large or 2 medium purple onions
4 bell peppers
Optional: Salt, basil
Balsamic vinegar
    • Heat a large wok or saute pan and add the olive oil.
    • Slice the onion into long strips and saute.
    • Slice the peppers into long strips and add to the pan.
    • Continue to cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft and starting to caramelize.
    • Add a few splashes of balsamic vinegar and any other seasonings you may be using, and and stir for another minute or two.

Optionally, make a smaller batch of peppers and onions and instead prepare a second vegetable filling, such as garlicky mushrooms and onions, or sauteed spinach and chard, or you could prepare any kind of savory Mexican-ish meat filling you would like.

Assembling the Casserole

Beans and sweet peppers from above
10 medium flour tortillas
1 block of cheddar (around 3/4 pound)
1 block of Mexican white cheese (cotija or equivalent)
2 jars of nice salsa (mix of 1 red and 1 green is nice)
1 large carton of sour cream
    • Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • Choose a large pot that will accommodate the tortillas and is at least 4″ tall.
    • Coarsely grate, shred, or crumble the cheeses.
    • Layer the casserole as follows, spreading each layer evenly and placing tortillas between them.
    • Pour one third of the salsas into the bottom of the pot, then add the first tortilla.
    • Spoon half of the beans into the next layer.
    • Scatter just less than half of the cheese as a layer.
    • Add half of the peppers and onions as a layer.
    • Spoon half of the sour cream as a layer.
    • Pour another third of the salsas as a layer.
    • Then repeat those five layers with the remaining fillings:
    • Spoon in the remaining beans.
    • Scatter most of the remaining cheese, setting a small portion aside for later.
    • Add the remaining peppers and onions.
    • Add the remaining sour cream.
    • Pour the last of the salsa on top of the final tortilla.
    • Bake at 325-350 for an hour or more.
    • Finish by scattering the remaining cheese on the top and returning to the oven for ten more minutes.

While the casserole is in the oven, cook 1.5 or 2 cups of rice.

To serve, slice the casserole radially, like a cake, lifting slices out of the pot with a pair of long spatulas and placing them atop a mound of rice.

A salad would be a nice accompaniment, or perhaps tortilla chips and salsa.

Serves ten or more.

Elapsed time approximately three to four hours.
You can prepare the beans and vegetables in advance, or prepare and layer the entire casserole and keep it in the refrigerator for a day or two before baking. However, if you do this, you will need to bake for a significantly longer time to allow it to all warm through; perhaps an hour at 300 and then most of another hour at 350.
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