Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is this Sunday, a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Also known as Battle of Puebla Day.
Enchiladas Suiza (Swiss)
9 tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1/2 white onion
1 serrano Chile
1 yellow Chile
2 cloves garlic
Fresh cilantro
Kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
Vegetable oil, for frying
Corn tortillas
2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Put the tomatillos, onion and both chiles in a medium heavy saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the tomatillos turn an olive-green color, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer the tomatillos, onions and chiles to a blender. Add the garlic and cilantro and blend until smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Mix the Mexican crema and heavy cream together in a small bowl and season with salt. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the tortillas until golden but still pliable, about 10 seconds per side, using more oil if needed. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
Place the tortillas on a work surface. Divide the shredded chicken evenly among the tortillas and roll up each like a cigar. Spread 1/3 cup of the sauce in a 13 X 9 baking dish. Arrange the enchiladas in 1 layer, seam-side down, snugly inside the dish. Pour the rest of the sauce over the enchiladas. Drizzle the cream mixture on top and sprinkle the cheese all over.
Bake until the cheese is melted and starting to brown in spots, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.