Tomatillo Enchilladas with Grilled Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 lb. tomatillos. husks removed, fruits rinsed and coarsely chopped
• 2 tbsp. water
• 3/4 lb. cooked grilled chicken breast, diced
• 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
• 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded fat-free pepper Jack cheese
• 1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed

Makes 6 Servings (2 enchiladas per serving)

1.  Preheat oven to 450 F. Spray large skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno and cook, stirring, until vegetables soften, 2-3 minutes. Stir in cumin and salt. Add tomatillos and water. Bring to boil; lower heat and simmer, uncovered, 7-8 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, stir together chicken, corn, and 1 cup Jack cheese in large bowl. 
3. Remove tomatillo sauce from heat and stir in cilantro. In two batches, transfer sauce to blender and puree, starting on low speed and holding blender lid down with folded kitchen towel. Stir 1 cup of sauce into chicken mixture; return remaining sauce to skillet. 
4. Spread 1 cup tomatillo sauce in bottom of 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Dip 1 tortilla at a time in remaining sauce, place on cutting board, and fill with 1/3 cup chicken mixture. Roll up and place seam side down in dish. Repeat with  remaining tortillas and chicken mixture. Spoon remaining sauce over enchiladas; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Cover with foil and bake until heated through, 12-15 minutes. Remove foil, turn on broiler and broil enchiladas until cheese is browned, about 1 minute. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Tastier than Takeout Cookbook. These treats are certainly a taste of Mexico. These enchiladas are both filling and flavorful. If you don't have corn on hand, substitute, sliced bell peppers and the enchiladas will be just as delicious. I highly recommend adding a tablespoon of fat-free sour cream to give these enchiladas a kick of zing. Even though 2 enchiladas make a serving, 1 enchilada will be filling enough. 

Chicken and Tomatillo Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. tomatillos, husked and rinsed
• 1 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
• 12 tbsp. shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
• 12 tbsp. fat-free sour cream

Makes 6 Servings (2 enchiladas per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch dish or casserole dish with nonstick spray.
2. Put tomatillos in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Stir together tomatillos, scallions, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, salt and pepper in a large shallow bowl.
3. Dip both sides of 1 tortilla into tomatillo mixture. Place tortilla on foil on work surface; top with about 1/4 cup of chicken, 1/2 tablespoon of Mexican cheese blend, and 1 tablespoon of sour cream. Fold two opposite sides of tortilla over to enclose filling. Place enchilada, seam side down, in prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas, chicken, 5 1/2 tablespoons of cheese, and sour cream, making total of 12 enchiladas. Pour remaining tomatillo mixture over enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining 6 tablespoons cheese.
4. Cover baking dish with foil. Bake 20 minutes; uncover and bake until heated through, about 10 minutes longer.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. Mexican food is a wonderful comfort food that can be enjoyed during the cold winter months. Don't be intimidated by tomatillos. Tomatillos are called Mexican green tomatoes and belong to the tomato family. They look like small green tomatoes but they have papery husks on them which you can peel off. This casserole is flavorful and delicious. You can even used boneless, skinless turkey breast in place of the chicken and the casserole will still be delicious. I highly recommend using sharp cheddar or Monterey jack cheese in this recipe for a sharp, Mexican flavor.

Spanish-Spiced Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 4 100% corn tortillas (6 inch), torn into small pieces
• 1 1/4 lbs. gluten-free ground turkey breast
• 4 tbsp. no-salt-added tomato paste
• 1 tbsp. mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp. smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 3/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups gluten-free low-sodium chicken broth

Makes 8 Servings (3 meatballs per serving)

1. In a food processor, coarsely grind the corn tortillas. Transfer the tortilla crumbs to a large bowl.
2. Add the turkey, 2 tablespoons of the tomato paste, the mayonnaise, paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano, and salt to the bowl. Add the eggs and gently mix to combine. Using a small ice cream scoop or your moistened hands, gently shape into 24 meatballs.
3. In a large skillet, combine the broth and remaining 2 tablespoons tomato paste. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning the meatballs as they cook, until firm all over and just cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
4. With a slotted spoon, transfer the meatballs to a platter or serving bowl. Increase the heat under the broth to medium-high and cook until the broth has reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Pour over the meatballs and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Gluten Solutions Cookbook. Who says you can't enjoy meatballs while you're on a diet or when you're on your healthy lifestyle? Meatballs don't always have to go with pasta and don't always come from Italy. These Spanish-style meatballs are great anytime, anywhere, anyplace. Who knew that crumbled tortillas could keep meatballs together? These meatballs also have spicy Spanish flavors of paprika, cumin and coriander and they make these treats delicious. If you don't have ground turkey on hand, used ground chicken or pork and they will taste just as delicious. Also, if you don't have chicken broth on hand, use dry white wine and your meatballs will really be tasty. Serve these treats to Iron Chef Bobby Flay and he will be impressed.

Tostados with Pork & Chipotle Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 (1-lb. ) pork tenderloin, trimmed
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1 tsp. minced chipotle en adabo
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1 cup fat-free canned refried beans, warmed
• 4 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
• 2 cups sliced romaine lettuce
• 1 large tomato, chopped

Makes 4 Servings

1.  Cut pork tenderloin into 4 equal pieces. Slice each horizontally at the middle without cutting entirely through the meat  and open up each like a book. Combine chili powder, salt, cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle onto pork, coating all sides.
2. Spray large skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand for 3 minutes; cut into strips.
3. Combine sour cream, chipotle, lime juice, and sugar in a small bowl. Spread warmed refried beans on tostados. Top with lettuce, strips of pork, and tomato; drizzle chipotle cream sauce evenly  over top of each.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Tastier than Takeout Cookbook. These will be your new Mexican guilty pleasures instead of the other food you get at the other Mexican fast food joints. It's a very filling meal that's filled with protein and will quickly fill you up. You can use black beans in place of the refried beans but it may change the point value. You can use chicken, steak or even turkey in this tostada and it will still be good. 

Fishy Tacos with Tangy Cilantro Slaw

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 1 tsp. minced chipotles in adobo
• 2 1/2 cups shredded red cabbage
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• zest and juice of 1 lime
• 2 tsp. canola oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 pound skinless cod or halibut filet, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 8 (6-inch) corn or whole wheat tortillas, warmed

Makes 4 Servings

1.  Stir sour cream and chipotles en adobo together in small bowl.
2. Stir cabbage, carrot, scallions, cilantro, lime zest and juice, oil and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl.
3. Spray ridge grill pan with nonstick spray; set over medium-high heat until very hot.
4. Sprinkle fish with chili powder, cumin and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place on grill pan and cook, turning once, until fish is just opaque throughout, about 3 minutes per side. Divide fish evenly among tortillas. Top evenly with slaw and sour cream mixture.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts. (2 tacos per serving)

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Tastier than Takeout Cookbook. I have always wanted to try fish tacos and this recipe looked too good to pass up. Plus, I was cleaning out the fridge and had all the ingredient and some to make these. These were totally different yet so delicious. When I normally eat tacos, they usually contain beef but fish tacos filled with vegetables and the right seasoning really wake up my taste buds. You can use any kind of white fish in these tacos and it will still be delicious. I used tilapia and the tacos were nice. If you don't have any chipotles en adobo, use any other kind of chili. I recommend doing a few things in making these fish tacos: add garlic to the sour cream mixture because garlic always make everything better, I added cumin along with the chili powder because chili powder and cumin always add heat and flavor to any Mexican dish, add radishes or jicama for a more healthy vegetable crunch, and use the Chipotle Infused Extra-Virgin Olive Oil from the Imperial Olive. For more information, visit www.TheImperialOlive.com.

Corn Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 lime, halved
• 1/2 avocado, finely diced
• 3 ripe tomatoes, cut in quarters
• 1 epazote leaf
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 corn tortillas, slivered and fried
• vegetable oil to deep-fry
• 1 pasilla chili, deveined and seedless
• 2 oz. fresh cheddar, Monterey Jack or any Mexican cheese, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 2 Servings

1. Heat oil in n a frying pan; add onion, tomatoes, garlic and fry until golden brown. Place ingredients into a blender with 1 cup of chicken broth and blend it all into a puree. Strain the mixture into a bowl until all liquid comes out. Set liquid aside.
2. Place puree in same frying pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Add remaining chicken broth and epazote leaf and simmer for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Make pasilla chili ring slices about 1/4-inch each and fry them in the pot with the oil.
4. To Serve: place fried tortillas, chili rings, avocado, cheese and soup at last.

WW POINTS VALUE: Who Knows?

Note: This is a recipe I learned at the Cocinca Cosmopolita Culinary School in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. I was on vacation and I wanted to improve my Mexican culinary skills. I made this dish all by myself and it was really easy to make and it taste delicious in the end. Tortilla soup is the official soup of Mexico. I converted the Mexican recipe into American measurements so it would be easier for me and others. it may look complicated but this dish couldn't be any easier to make. This is a dish that is suitable for everyone, including vegetarians.