Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (2024)

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The ultimate comforting breakfast food.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated November 08, 2022

Why It Works

  • Freshly-fried tortilla chips provide the heft and crunch required to stand up to being simmered in salsa.
  • Cut wedges of soft corn tortillas are deep-fried until puffy and crisp, yet still pale golden.
  • Frying the chips just before adding them to the salsa yields the best results.

There are some words you don't normally associate with good food. Wet. Limp. Soggy. These are not descriptors you generally want to be putting in your mouth. But there are exceptions to every rule, and it just happens that one of the most delicious dishes of all time fits all three of those definitions.Chilaquilesjust happen to sound a whole lot better than "wet, limp, soggy nachos."

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (2)

Ok, I'm being a little bit unfair here. The best chilaquiles (the kind we're after) aren't so much wet as moist, and aren't so much limp as "gently softened until the chips retain just a bit of crunch but dissolve in your mouth into a mix of comforting starch and hot salsa." But still, when it comes down to it,chilaquiles are essentially soggy nachos—an excuse to eat chips and salsa for breakfast.

It's a super-simple dish to make once you have the basic ingredients ready. All you've got to do is heat up some salsa in a pan, thin it out with a little water or chicken stock, fold in some chips, and top it all with a few garnishes: Mexicancrema, crumbled cheese, sliced onions, chopped cilantro, and fried or scrambled eggs are my go-to. But there's some finesse in perfecting them.

First and foremost, youmustuse freshly-fried tortilla chips. I've yet to find a brand of store-bought chips that have the heft and crunch required to stand up to being simmered in salsa. I make my chips by cutting whole soft corn tortillas into wedges, then deep frying them in a wok until they're puffy and crisp but not yet deeply browned. Frying the chips just before adding them to the salsa will give you the best possible results.

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (3)

As for the salsa, you can use a doctored-up store-bought salsa verde or even a couple of cans of enchilada sauce with some fresh cilantro and lime juice if you'd like. But if you go through the troubleof making your own, you'll be rewarded with a breakfast fit for ajefe. Especially when it's topped with a runny egg.

September 2013

Recipe Details

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe

Active15 mins

Total15 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 quartsvegetable, canola, or peanut oil

  • 16 soft corn tortillas, cut into 6 wedges each

  • Kosher salt

  • 2 cups salsa verde

  • 1 cuphomemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth or water

  • 4 eggs

  • 1/2 cupMexicancremaor sour cream

  • 1/2 small white onion, thinly sliced

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

  • 1/4 cup crumbledcotija cheese

Directions

  1. Heat vegetable oil to 375°F (191°C) in a large wok, Dutch oven, or deep fryer. Adjust flame to maintain temperature. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Fry 1/3 of tortilla wedges, using a metal spider to agitate them as they cook. Cook until bubbling slows to a trickle, chips are pale golden brown, and are very crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet and immediately season with kosher salt. Repeat with remaining batches.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (4)

  2. Heat salsa verde and chicken broth (or water, if using) in a large straight-sided sauté over medium heat until simmering. Add chips and turn to coat. Cover and set aside.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (5)

  3. Transfer 2 tablespoons of oil to a large non-stick or cast iron skillet. Heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 eggs and cook until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. Transfer to a large plate.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (6)

  4. Stir tortilla chips again and season to taste with salt if necessary. Divide between 4 warmed serving plates. Top each with a fried egg. Drizzle with crema, sprinkle with onions, cilantro, and cheese, and serve immediately.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (7)

Special Equipment

Blender, wok or deep fryer, rimmed baking sheet, wire mesh spider,probeorinstant-read thermometer

Read More

  • Basic Salsa Verde (Mexican Tomatillo Salsa)
  • Mexican
  • Fried Eggs
  • Eggs
  • Quick Breakfast
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
656Calories
38g Fat
64g Carbs
18g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories656
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g49%
Saturated Fat 11g57%
Cholesterol 219mg73%
Sodium 1360mg59%
Total Carbohydrate 64g23%
Dietary Fiber 10g36%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 16mg78%
Calcium 225mg17%
Iron 3mg18%
Potassium 714mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should chilaquiles be crunchy or soft? ›

The best chilaquiles (the kind we're after) aren't so much wet as moist, and aren't so much limp as "gently softened until the chips retain just a bit of crunch but dissolve in your mouth into a mix of comforting starch and hot salsa." But still, when it comes down to it, chilaquiles are essentially soggy nachos—an ...

How do you make chilaquiles not soggy? ›

Thick tortilla chips – Traditionally, chilaquiles would be made with fried stale corn tortillas, but to streamline this recipe, I sub store-bought tortilla chips. Look for ones that are fairly thick. If they're too thin, they'll quickly get soggy in the salsa.

Does chilaquiles contain eggs? ›

Chilaquiles (pronounced “chee-lah-keel-ehs”) is a Mexican dish made up of fried crispy tortilla chips, a red or green sauce, fried eggs and various toppings and garnishes.

What is the difference between fried eggs and over easy eggs? ›

Sunny Side Up Eggs: An egg is fried only on one side and never flipped for completely liquid yolk and barely set whites. Over Easy Eggs: An egg is fried on one side, then flipped for runny yolks and soft whites. Over Medium Eggs: An egg is fried on one side, then flipped for jammy yolks and hard whites.

What is the best store bought sauce for chilaquiles? ›

If you decide to go store-bought, then I suggest Herdez mild salsa verde. Quality enchilada sauce is harder to come by but Frontera enchilada sauce is decent but you still may want to doctor it up a bit or for those who like a little deeper, spicier sauce, I prefer Frontera's Adobo Sauce.

What is the difference between migas and chilaquiles? ›

But there's a difference in that regard: migas usually feature short strips of fried tortilla, while chilaquiles use what are essentially tortilla chips. There are other distinctions too. The tortillas in migas are mixed with scrambled eggs; chilaquiles' are drenched in salsa.

What is the difference between chilaquiles verdes and rojos? ›

Depending on your taste buds, you might prefer chilaquiles verdes or chilaquiles rojos! The only difference between the two is the type of salsa used! We love both, but our recipe is Chilaquiles Verdes, which uses a green salsa to combine all the components.

What is chilaquiles sauce made of? ›

Chilaquiles verdes are made with a salsa made from tomatillos, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro (hence the “greens” in the translation). Chilaquiles rojos are made with a salsa made from tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and broth.

How to fry an egg? ›

Step 1In a small nonstick over medium heat, melt butter (or heat oil). Crack egg into pan. Cook 3 minutes, or until white is set. Flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until yolk is completely set.

Who typically eats chilaquiles? ›

This dish is found all throughout Mexico, and at its most basic, it consists of fried tortilla chips covered with a red or green salsa, which makes the chip soft. Chilaquiles are commonly served with a side of refried beans and are eaten quite regularly in most Mexican homes.

Why are chilaquiles so delicious? ›

Chilaquiles are an unchallenged icon of Mexican breakfast. Since Chilaquiles are a little spicy and and served warm, it's like a gentle jolt that dispels your morning drowsiness. “Tasty” is the best way to describe chilaquiles. They can be prepared with red or green sauce, but the former is the classical option.

How long do you fry an egg for? ›

Let the eggs cook until white is set and the corners begin to curl ever so slightly, about 3 - 4 minutes depending on your heat source. No need to fuss with them either, they'll turn out better if they're left alone. For sunny side up eggs, simply slide the eggs onto a plate and season again if desired.

What is a fried egg with a broken yolk called? ›

Over hard or over well. Cooked on both sides all the way through, with the yolk broken (immediately after the egg is cracked). Sunny-side up. Cooked on one side only, until the egg white is set, but the yolk remains liquid.

What do you call a fried egg with hard yolk? ›

A fried egg. Depending on how the yolk is cooked and if you're ordering in a restaurant you either ask for 'over easy', 'over medium' or 'hard'. Over easy or just easy means runny yolk and some runny white. Over medium or just medium means runny yolk but white totally cooked. Hard means white and yolk cooked hard.

Are chilaquiles soft? ›

Due to the spicy salsa in chilaquiles, the tortilla chips are usually softer, and the flavor is more intense. However, most restaurants in Mexico will have you choose between crunchy or soft chilaquiles, with the difference being that soft chilaquiles are made with more salsa, which softens the tortilla chips.

Why are my chilaquiles soggy? ›

If you buy more expensive chips, you'll find yourself trying to avoid a soggy mess. This theory was confirmed by a Mexican who offered some nuggets on wisdom on Reddit. They wrote, "The tortilla chips must retain some crunchiness even with all that piping hot salsa on them.

Are tortillas soft or crunchy? ›

Freshly made tortillas are never hard and crispy whether they are made from corn or wheat flour. They are moist and very flexible when they are fresh. When tortillas get old, they harden up but they're not very crispy.

Why are my tortillas crispy and not soft? ›

If your tortillas are not soft there can be several reasons: You did not use all purpose flour. You did not use a cast iron pan. Your pan was not hot enough.

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