The Duckie Rules of Enchiladas
I am a enchilada snob.
It’s a terrible thing.
The problem is when you live in South Texas, there’s a lot of good Mexican and Tex- Mex. Yes, they’re different.
There’s also a lot of bad Mexican and bad Tex- Mex.
And when your day job is as a feature writer and you spend lots of time in restaurants, particularly a lot of time in Mexican restaurants, you learn what’s good and bad pretty quick.
Needless to say, most of the time I make my enchiladas at home. Because I’m an enchilada snob, and I have rules.
Cheesy, delicious, rules.
Which I shall share, being the kind duckie I am.
Enchilada Rule 1: The only appropriate fillings are ground beef, shredded, slow cooked chicken or cheese. Unless you’re doing seafood enchiladas, but that’s a whole other post. You can cook them with peppers and onions, use leftover rotisserie, whatever you like.
Enchilada Rule 2: Don’t skimp on the cheese. White cheese, not cheddar. Queso blanco people. This rule is only broken with chili con carne, in which case cheddar can be delectable and is wholly appropriate.
Enchilada Rule 3: Jalepenos and chiles are your best friend.
Enchilada Rule 4: Roll or stack, but always broil cheese on top. And sauce, lots of sauce. First you bake, then you broil for the last few minutes to get that soft crunch.
Enchilada Rule 5: USE CORN TORTILLAS ONLY. Not white, not wheat, not spinach. Red, yellow, white or blue corn only. Of course, my favorite is blue corn.
Enchilada Rule 6: If you’re making them at home, don’t fry the tortillas before rolling. Just heat them up in the microwave for about 30 seconds. If you try to fry them at home and then roll them, it’s just a big greasy mess. It’s best to leave that to proffesionals. Grease is not goodness, people. Remember that. Real Mexican or Tex- Mex should never be greasy or leave you reaching for the heartburn medicine. If you have to soak grease up with a napkin, there’s a problem.
Enchilada Rule 7: It is perfectly appropriate to put chili on top of chili on carne enchiladas. And extra cheese. And sour cream. And refried beans.
No one said this was healthy.
Enchilada Rule 8: When making a white sauce for spinach or seafood enchiladas, whether sour cream or cilantro cream, watch your recipes. A lot of places use short cuts that can be really gross. When in doubt, go to your favorite restaurant, butter up the waiter and get the recipe. Just pray the cook speaks English.
Enchilada Rule 9: Meat and cheese only inside, maybe a few peppers and chiles. Anything more is a taco or a burrito.
Enchilada Rule 10: Homemade enchiladas equal love. Spicy, cheesy, gooey love.
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September 23rd, 2010 at 1:21 am
It’s been a while since I have last visited your blog (I’ve been gone for a while). I missed your posts!!!! And oooh, the enchiladas looks great! Yummo!
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:35 am
To our Enchilada Princess…ruler of great Enchilada eating. LOL
Believe it or not…I’ve never made enchiladas…and how can I not refer to you in the future since your dedication on this feast is so passionate!!!
I just bought an experimental crockpot…hence some chicken just may be slow-cooked ready for some enchilada making with lots of goey cheese on top ;o))
Thanks Duckie for such a helpful posting.
Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 am
My mouth is watering. I’ve never had really good enchiladas – so I will follow your rules to try to make some at home. (Stopping by from SITS)
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:42 am
I would love to try your enchiladas!
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:53 am
Yum! One of my favorites, too!
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:38 am
Those enchilada rules are right on!
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:41 am
Nothing wrong with being discerning daaaaaaahling. Its a good thing to know what you like and know what you dont like.
So now that we’ve got the perfect enchiladas, lets eat!
*kisses* HH
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:05 am
oh my , your killing me..perfect rules to live by, yes Tex-mex and mex are totally different, why is that so hard for people to understand,…ha ha
sweetlife
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 am
I love the rules of enchiladas – this should be a kitchen plaque….so many people dont know the basics and this could help them immensely……
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:27 am
I haven’t had enchiladas in freaking ages,
so going on my menu!
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:36 am
This is a great post. I LOVE enchiladas!
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:48 am
I LOVE food snobs. They always come up with the best recipes. I will definitely try this one out!
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:20 am
That is awesome!! I’ve always got the enchiladas, taco, fajitas, burritos and whatnot all confused. Doesn’t matter, I love them all. I do admit to breaking your rules on more than one occasion. My humblest apologies!!
I agree with Beth though, Food Snob make the best recipes so be as snobby as you’d like!
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:28 am
Spicy gooey love sends me straight for the TUMS!
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:39 am
That’s a whole lotta rules for enchiladas!
I will have to say, I hate shredded meat. Prefer ground beef or shrimp. I
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:02 am
oh my gosh… those look amazing!! I wish you could mail me some
drooooool!
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:08 am
Love enchiladas and these look awesome and delicious!! love them!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:23 am
Happy belated 26th Bitrhday to you!! Yeah!! I hope you enjoyed it fully!
These enchilladas mak my mouth water,…really!
Thanks also for the enchillada rules!
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:31 am
I’m taking notes on all these rules. Especially the cheese rule. Everything is better with cheese!
How’s the birthday month going?
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:44 am
Will you still love me if I admit that I’ve never eaten an enchilada?
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:54 am
OK if I come to Texas, I’m going to have you show me around the best enchilada stuff!
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:25 am
See, I am not a corn tortilla fan with enchiladas, at all. I only eat them with flour. And I love Mexican. Not as much with Tex Mex.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:34 am
*furiously scribbles notes* You’re a tough cookie. I think rather than try to make enchiladas when I’m in the mood, I’ll just go to your house.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:34 am
OK.. I’m drooling! Love veggie enchiladas…
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:38 am
You seriously need to open up your own restaurant Duckie – I’m starving!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:14 am
You know… enchiladas haven’t been my go-to Mexican dish, and I’ve never made them at home. I’m sure we’ll have Mexican this weekend, so I’m going to memorize your rules and give it a whirl.
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:15 am
I agree with Miss. Fashionista- please open up your own restaurant! You always have the best food and the best descriptions. I would eat there everyday!
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:16 am
I love, love, love enchiladas and this post is making me hungry!
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
Wow who knew there were so many rules to making enchiladas! Don’t hate me but I have never made them. I really should give them a cheesy try
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:46 am
Those are some strict enchilada rules, but they’re also yummy.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:36 am
Yummo!!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:59 am
I like your enchilada rules!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:42 am
Enchiladas rule! But I do love me a good pork Chile Verde enchilada.
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Oh I LOVE them!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I like your rules. I think that they are great with just about anything. I hope that I get to have some soon.
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:00 pm
You know how much I love Mexican food. Your enchilada rules are right on!
P.S. You can come to Portland next year for your birthday and I will make you a big birthday feast! xoxo
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:12 pm
No shredded beef, hamburger meat?
Some of those pictures look an awful lot like the same enchiladas. Were you skimping on individual photos there?
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Fun and yummy post, darling!
xoxox,
CC
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I love that you have rules about enchiladas!
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:22 pm
This post is making me very hungry …
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I love your Enchilada rules, mine are similar!
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:39 pm
I said it before and I’ll say it again…My area needs more authentic Mexican restaurants!
September 24th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Now THAT’s a good enchilada. I really miss living in Texas, although it was a long time ago. This makes me homesick for the great state.
You are so very right. There’s great Tex-Mex and then there’s the other Tex-Mex.
Sam
September 24th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Delicious enchiladas!
September 24th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Dudette- what about bean enchiladas, no?
I agree with 99 percent of your rules. I just cant live without an occassional bean enchilada.
Your tough I tell yah!
September 24th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Specifically black bean and sweet potato. Okay are you grimacing and saying yuck?
September 24th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I love Mexican- deliciousness. Agree- cheese must be broiled
September 24th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
I totally agree with you about the slow cooked chicken. It makes such a big difference. I grew up on enchiladas and still make them for my family all the time.
September 25th, 2010 at 3:55 am
Rules to live by!!! I’m with ya girl…
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
September 25th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
I learned some new things about enchiladas! Next time I’ll be sure to broil…you gave me a terrible craving for them now!
September 26th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Love this cute post and I learned lots of tips! I’ve actually never made enchiladas at home but definitely need to!
September 26th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I always love coming here. Your posts always make me either really hungry or they take me to a land of fantasy and make-believe (and who doesn’t love to escape every now and then?).
I love your enchillada rules. I dig. Skimping on the cheese in an enchillada = total dealbreaker.
September 27th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Slobbering. Those look like heavenly melty goodness.
September 27th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
I love your food posts. You would make a good food critic. Wouldn’t that be a fun job? Or maybe it is just me who imagines that being paid to taste food and then share my opinion on it would be a dream job?
You could probably also publish a cookbook. 
September 29th, 2010 at 6:52 am
MMMM…. I love LOVE enchiladas! I make fab ones after thanksgiving and Christmas with leftover turkey! I love you loads!
June 10th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Ive heard a lot of great things about Headsweats but have never actually tried one before. Whats on my running favorites list? This is tough because Ive become quite a minimalist these days. I guess it would have to be my iPhone because I love that I can carry just one item with so many functionsmusic, GPS (for tracking distance/pace and mapping a route on the fly), and phone for emergencies.