Chef's Hat: Try these easy-to-make Mexican dishes

There’s lots of great Mexican dishes — enchiladas, burritos, tacos and nachos. For some reason, these popular dishes have a bad reputation of being difficult to make. Although these dishes may require a few ingredients that aren’t necessarily in the cupboard, for the most part, they are fast and easy to prepare. Enchiladas are a savory Mexican dish. Traditionally they are a rolled corn tortilla filled with meat and various vegetables, covered in a sauce and baked. They can be made with flour tortillas, or no tortilla at all. Again, traditionally beans and corn are added, but other vegetables such as peppers, celery, carrots or even mushrooms can be added. So in this sense, enchiladas are similar to a soup — you throw in whatever ingredients you have on hand! Enchiladas are believed to have originated in Mexico. They have been a staple of Mexican cuisine for over 100 years. The word “enchilada” comes from the Spanish verb “enchilar," which means to season with chili.

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