Chimichanga is a popular Mexican-style entrée that consists of flour tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken or minced beef, peppers, beans and topped with cheese and other Mexican condiments and sauces.

The stuffed tortillas are deep-fried and then topped with delicious and spicy Mexican condiments.  The varied flavors imparted by fresh salsa, guacamole, sour cream, etc. make this dish taste spicy and delectable.

Chimichangas make for a complete meal in itself since it consists of wholesome and filling ingredients. This article discusses the recipe to make chicken chimichangas at home.

Ingredients

4-5 flour tortillas
2 cups boneless chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
½ onion finely chopped
2-3 fresh jalapenos finely chopped
4-5 spoons fresh cilantro leaves finely chopped
1 cup sour cream
2 spoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salt to taste
3 cups refried beans
1 spoon garlic powder
1 cup shredded lettuce
½ cup fresh tomato puree
2-3 spoons crushed paprika
Few pickled olives or pickled jalapenos
1 cup oil

Method

To make delicious chimichangas we will first prepare the zesty salsa sauce that will impart a great spicy flavor to the dish. To make salsa, take the fresh tomato puree in a bowl. To this add salt, crushed paprika flakes, garlic powder and mix well. Next add the freshly chopped cilantro leaves, finely chopped onion and the finely chopped fresh jalapenos. Add the fresh lemon juice and mix all ingredients thoroughly well. Your spicy salsa is ready for use.

Next, ready the tortillas by warming them on a skillet. Place the tortilla on a plate and then add the shredded cooked chicken over it. Follow it with the refried beans and add the shredded Monterey Jack cheese. The chicken must be cooked in chicken broth for enhanced flavor. The chicken must be seasoned with salt, freshly ground black pepper and herbs such as dried oregano or basil for it to taste more flavorful. Once the stuffing for the tortilla is done, roll the tortillas and seal the edges so that the stuffing does not spill out during frying.

You can also use ground beef in place of chicken. The beef must be seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper. To deep fry the tortilla, take oil in a deep vessel and allow it heat sufficiently. Once the oil is heated, deep-fry the stuffed tortilla till it turns golden brown on both sides. Drain the excess oil on a paper towel and let the fried tortilla cool.

After this assemble the chimchanga by placing the fried tortilla on a bed of the shredded lettuce. Top with freshly made salsa, sour cream and grated cheddar cheese. You can also add freshly chopped jalapenos and chopped fresh cilantro leaves to make the dish taste fresh and spicier. Add few pickled olives or pickled jalapenos for a nice tangy flavor. Fresh guacamole is also a delicious topping for chimichangas. Serve the chimichangas with Mexican rice. Since chimichanga is an entrée you can serve nachos and cheese sauce along with it to make a complete Mexican meal.

Photo Credit: Yelp.com