Enchiladas Suizas (Swiss Enchiladas)

Let's Cook

1. Step 1.

   Bring 2½ cups water, chicken, garlic, bay leaves, salt, and peppercorns to simmer in medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain simmer and cook until chicken registers 160 degrees, 5 to 7 minutes.

2. Step 2.

   Transfer chicken to bowl and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes (strain broth and reserve for other use). Shred chicken into ½-inch pieces.

3. Step 3.

   Cut 1 serrano in half lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Transfer serrano halves to medium saucepan along with remaining 2 whole serranos.

4. Step 4.

   Halve onion. Cut one ½-inch-thick slice from 1 onion half; add to saucepan with serranos. Finely chop remaining onion half and set aside for serving.

5. Step 5.

   Add tomatillos and garlic to saucepan. Add water to cover vegetables and bring to gentle simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to maintain very gentle simmer and cook until tomatillos are very tender, about 20 minutes.

6. Step 6.

   Using slotted spoon, transfer onion, garlic, serranos, and one-quarter of tomatillos to blender. Add cilantro, sugar, and salt and blend until smooth, about 1 minute.

7. Step 7.

   Add remaining tomatillos (discard cooking water) and crema and blend until smooth, 45 to 60 seconds.

8. Step 8.

   Line rimmed baking sheet with double layer of paper towels. Heat oil in 10-inch ovensafe skillet over medium heat to 325 degrees.

9. Step 9.

   Using tongs, place 1 tortilla in skillet and fry for 5 seconds. Flip tortilla and continue to cook until it is puffed in spots but not browned, 4 to 6 seconds longer. Transfer to prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

10. Step 10.

    Place double layer of paper towels over tortillas and press to absorb excess oil. Discard oil and wipe out skillet.

11. Step 11.

    Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees.

12. Step 12.

    Add oregano to chicken and toss to combine. Season with pepper to taste.

13. Step 13.

    Spread ¼ cup sauce across bottom of now-empty skillet. Place ¼ cup chicken over lower third of 1 tortilla. Roll tortilla tightly around filling and place seam side down in skillet. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. (Arrange 6 enchiladas down center of skillet and one on each side).

14. Step 14.

    Spread ⅓ cup sauce evenly over enchiladas. Sprinkle Monterey Jack evenly over sauce.

15. Step 15.

    Bake until cheese is melted and filling is heated through (internal temperature should be between 135 and 140 degrees), about 12 minutes.

16. Step 16.

    While enchiladas bake, transfer remaining sauce to saucepan and bring to gentle simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

17. Step 17.

    Divide sauce evenly among 4 shallow bowls. Arrange 2 enchiladas in each bowl, over sauce. Garnish enchiladas with cilantro, radish, cotija, and reserved chopped onion. Serve immediately.