Jollyrogers' Chilaquiles

This is a Mexican casserole that my Grandpa used to make every Thanksgiving and Christmas. The smell alone makes me feel like I am six years old and waiting for dinner to start. This recipe has been handed down from my Grandpa to my dad to me. The original recipe did not call for teaspoons or tablespoons, but with ounces and pounds. It can be made with or without chorizo. I prefer it with soy-based meatless chorizo substitute, which also makes it a good dish for vegetarians.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 414 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• ¼ cup vegetable oil (Optional)
• 3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles, drained
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (Optional)
• 1 ½ teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup white vinegar, divided
• ½ pound chorizo or bulk spicy pork sausage (Optional)
• 12 (7 inch) corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix (Optional)
• ¾ cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Put chopped onion and sliced olives in separate small bowls and combine each with 1/4 cup of vinegar. Set aside to marinate. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chorizo, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 10 minutes. Remove the chorizo from the skillet and set aside.

Step 2

Heat 1/4 cup of oil in the skillet and add the tortilla pieces, cooking and stirring over medium-low heat until just beginning to get crisp and golden at the edges, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and drain the tortillas; pour 1 tablespoon of the oil into a saucepan.

Step 3

Heat the saucepan over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking. Add the flour, and cook and stir until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour in the regular and hot tomato sauces, water, browned chorizo, cocoa powder, sugar, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, oregano, and taco seasoning. Simmer the sauce about 5 minutes to blend the flavors. Stir in diced chiles and tortillas. Simmer about 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until tortillas have softened and the mixture is thick.

Step 4

Drain the onion and olives. Spoon a layer of tortilla mixture evenly into a 2 quart baking dish or serving dish, and follow with a layer of about 2 tablespoons marinated onion, then a layer of 2 tablespoons olives, followed by a layer of 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers twice more. Serve hot.