
Easy Beef (or Chicken) and Kale Enchiladas
Ground beef has a way of dominating the flavors of things put with it. In this case, a bunch of kale piggy backs inconspicuously with the beef into flour tortillas without any noticable taste difference to the enchilada, yet with a dramatic increase in nutrients like vitamins K,A, and C, as well as a host of other antioxidants. Directions for using chicken instead or beef are at the end. This one got a thumbs up and a “Will you pass that tray again?” from all taste testers.
Ingredients
Method
- Prep Work: Chop kale. Shred cheese if needed.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute onion in medium skillet on medium heat for 2 min., then add ground beef for 3 min. Add kale, mushrooms, garlic and optional 1/4 cup nutritional yeast. Cover with lid and cook just until meat is no longer pink, stirring at least every minute. Stir in 1/3 cup of enchilada sauce, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper (for yield of 6).
- Pour remaining enchilada sauce in another skillet and heat on low. Grease bottom of 13×9 pan and place next to skillet of sauce.
- Place one tortilla in warmed sauce, flip over with tongs or spatula and place in 13×9 pan. Fill with approx. 3/4 cup of meat mixture using a slotted spoon to drain liquid. Roll tightly and place seam side down in pan. Repeat.
- Pour any remaining enchilada sauce over top of enchiladas. Sprinkle cheese over top and bake covered with aluminum foil for 15-20 min. Serve with something fresh, like salad, seasonal fruit and/or a vegetable side dish. These enchiladas are best eaten the same day so that the tortillas don’t get soggy, or you can freeze them after completely cooled. CHICKEN or VEGETARIAN ENCHILADAS: Replace beef with cooked and shredded or chopped chicken or 15 oz. cooked beans or lentils, adding it to skillet with the enchilada sauce, salt and pepper. COOKING A WHOLE CHICKEN- One way to cook the chicken is to submerge one whole chicken with organs removed into a large soup pot filled to the top with water. Add some celery and carrots, then simmer for at a very low boil until meat begins to fall off the bones and legs move back and forth easily, approx. 60-90 min. Now you have approx. 4 cups of chicken AND a large quantity of delicious and nutritious chicken broth to freeze for later use. EXTRA KALE?: Make OTL Super Nachos or marinate it and add to the salad you serve on the side. OTL 2011