Chilaquiles divorciados is a dish found in Mexican cuisine. This article is about how you can make chilaquiles divorciados. Chilaquiles is a dish from central and southern Mexico that is traditionally made of fried tortilla pieces (chips) and salsa. One variant consists of chips simmered until they become soft and the sauce thickens.
While another variant consists of fried chips topped with a tomato or tomatillo-based sauce. The name comes from Nahuatl words “chīlli” which means chili pepper, “aqīlēhuitl” meaning “cooked fruit”, and the suffix “-ātl” meaning thing used in a given action (in this case cooking). This article is about how you can make chilaquiles divorciados.
Chilaquiles divorciados is a dish found in Mexican cuisine
Ingredients for chilaquiles divorciados
- Striped the chicken breast.
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth.
- 2 guitars of onion.
- 12 tortillas chips.
- (Optional) 3 cups of shredded cheese.
- 1 cup cream or evaporated milk (optional).
- 1/2 cup of water.
- Sprinkle half a teaspoon of salt on top (optional).
- Approximately 1/4 teaspoon powdered pepper (optional).
- 2 tbsp cumin.
- 3 tbsps of salt.
- 4 tbsps of coriander seed.
- 1 tsp of ground cumin seeds.
Ingredients for chilaquiles divorciados
Instructions for chilaquiles divorciados
- Preheat the oven to 175c.
- In a bowl mix chicken breast with cumin and chili powder and rub well into the breasts.
- Place chicken breast strips on a baking tray and bake for about 15 minutes or until done, flip the pieces of chicken breast at least once during cooking time to ensure even cooking of all sides.
- While sautéing the onions in a frying pan add 1/2 cup of water (more if more steam is needed) to prevent the burning of onions, while allowing them to soften slightly. To this add 1/2 tsp salt and pepper powder if desired.
- Then add cream or evaporated milk if desired (this will make it more creamy).
- Scoop out the cooked onion from the pan and add them to the chicken breast mixture.
- Add 1/2 cup of water, cumin, coriander seed, and salt to this mixture (to taste).
- Then place the mixture in a baking dish or another baking tray (see picture below).
- Place tortilla chips on top of this mixture and then place some sauce (chicken broth topped with cream or evaporated milk – about 1/4 cup) on top of these chips.
- Place into the oven for about 30 minutes and stir once at the beginning to ensure even cooking and browning of all parts of this dish.
- Once done, serve and enjoy.
- You may add more sauce at this point if desired but it’s important to make sure the last dish is all cooked first before adding any extra liquid as that will prevent this dish from cooking right or even burning.
- Add salt, pepper powder, and cumin if desired (this is an optional step and it’s also good to just taste the dish at this point).
This is a very tasty chilaquiles divorciados that can be enjoyed even without cheese or cream or evaporated milk but it’s also great with them once you try it you’ll see how delicious they are.
Serve chilaquiles divorciados
Cooking notes for chilaquiles divorciados
- You can add other things to this dish like beans, tomatoes, etc.
- You can also try adding a different type of cheese to this dish.
- The recipe above has been tried and tested with the ingredients listed and a tsp of cumin added at the end of cooking so you may add more if you want but be careful not to put in too much as that is what gives it it’s almost smokey flavor.
- The cumin seeds also add a flavor sensation to this dish so make sure to add them at the beginning.
- Add pepper if desired when you take it out of the oven at about 30 minutes.
- Make sure to check your baking tray/dish before starting as different types of material and even different types of baking dishes can react differently.
Some questions about chilaquiles divorciados
Is this dish spicy?
No, it’s not. It does not have a spicy taste however if you add pepper powder at the end it can add spiciness to the dish so be careful of putting too much if you don’t want that.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can but make sure to follow instructions carefully and check the mixture before adding cream or evaporated milk and continue with the recipe from there.
Will this dish burn?
Yes, it will if you don’t follow the instructions carefully. Make sure to look at the instructions carefully before trying this recipe and make sure to add water as soon as you take the onions out of the pan.
You need to be careful when making the dish
Can I use other types of cheese?
Yes, you can. Instead of using grated cheddar cheese, you can also try using your desired type of cheese such as different types of shredded cheese or even another form of hard cheese, just remember to add it after about 30 minutes in the oven or it will not be fully cooked and also make sure not to put too much otherwise it may burn (especially if you are using a slow cooker).
See more: Best chilaquiles de pollo recipes
Can I use chicken drumsticks instead of chicken breast?
Yes, you can. Just make sure to cook them just like how it says in the recipe. You can also cook other types of meat or veggies and then add this sauce to it as well it’s not just a Mexican dish so you can mix and match these ingredients as you wish
Is this dish spicy?
No, chilaquiles divorciados is not spicy, but if you add pepper powder at the end of cooking (after 30 minutes) then yes that will make this dish spicy, however, if you add pepper first while cooking then no the meal won’t be spicy when served.
Will this dish burn?
Yes, it will if you don’t follow the instructions carefully. Make sure to look at the instructions carefully before trying this recipe and make sure to add water as soon as you take the onions out of the pan.
Can I use other types of cheese?
Yes, you can. Instead of using grated cheddar cheese, you can also try using your desired type of cheese such as different types of shredded cheese or even another form of hard cheese, just remember to add it after about 30 minutes in the oven or it will not be fully cooked and also make sure not to put too much otherwise it may burn (especially if you are using a slow cooker).
Chilaquiles divorciados are delicious and totally worth the effort to make. However, follow the instructions carefully to ensure that your dish turns outright (if you are using a slow cooker beware as you don’t want it to burn).
Gemma Jane is the content editor for our website. She is a person with extensive knowledge and has many years of research in the field. The knowledge she shares is delicious, nutritious, healthy recipes. Currently she is living in the New York city with her husband and 2 sons.