Mexican Lasagne - Third Time a Charm!

[Kitchen2u]

Hey there...just sharing...

I tried this recipe EXACTLY as listed. Family thought it was a bit blaw (using jarred, dry cilantro).

Tried it with FRESH cilantro...still blaw.

Third time was a charm...

Used:
Fresh cilantro,

used more cheese,

added 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of Southwestern Seasoning (sprinkle over the chicken layer) and

SUBSTITUTED GREEN Chile Enchilada Sauce (medium, not mild) . . .

EXCELLENT!!!

I will not be offering the red sauce recipe, only the green since it was a MAJOR hit with my best critics!

 

[kam]

Thanks for the info! Good to know.

I think I will try this with the Green Enchilada Sauce (I made Chicken Enchiladas this past weekend and DH preferred the Green Sauce over the Red Sauce.)

But, I am curious as to how this would taste without the Cilantro since DH & both dislike it.

Maybe adding the SW seasoning will cause the ommission of the cilantro to be less noticeable!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I posted about the green sauce on another thread.

This recipe is very much like one I've made for years - only I've always made it with green sauce.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

sounds yummy!

 

[Chefgirl2]

Hmmm...i'll have to try it.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I made it exactly to directions but at first left off the garnish of cilantro. It was GREAT but we all agreed that it needed more so we added the garnish of cilantro and it was perfect!!

 

[turtle15]

I made it as is with fresh cilantro and I really liked it!

 

[cookingwith_tara]

OMGoodness! I can't wait to try this one!

 

[pampermejolene]

Wow Ginny, that's dedication! Usually if I try a recipe and it's not a hit it goes! Good for you and thanks for the info!

 

[heat123]

I love GREEN sauce over red but DH prefers red, so I will make the 1st batch with red and the next time, green and see which I like better!

 

[mpkegley]

I tried it using the red too and thought it was blaw. Thanks for the suggestion of the green sauce, but not sure if hubby will be too thrilled at trying it again. I will have to give it a little time.

 

[janetupnorth]

We had this Saturday, both the red and green version at our cluster's spring kick-off.The green sauce version won hands down!!!! I loved it.I tried the red sauce version and it was kind of blah...

 

[heat123]

1st attempt!
Feedback from tonights dinner.... everyone loved it! I added pressed garlic and chipotle to the cream cheese mix and it smelled dynamo! Then added 4cups of cheese and added southwest seasoning to the chix. YUMO, said my family, including my parents and brother and SIL. NOTE: DH is very picky and not fond of anything "new" but he really liked this! Two thumbs up! Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

[KimoMakano]

I made this for my office today.
I followed the recipe exactly and it was okay.
It seemed pretty soupy though, especially around the edges.
Also I noticed it sort of mounded in the middle because of the overlap of tortillas and that left the ends thinner. I think next time I might try breaking the tortillas in half so I can spread them out a little more evenly.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

I had this at our Spring Regional Meeting and wasn't overly impressed. It has potential, but it definitely needs a kick! Maybe the green sauce will do it, didn't know there was that big a difference in the flavors. I also, prefer flour tortillas to corn, so I would change that, and I would have to precook the onion, don't like any crunch to my onion. Also, I think an addition of salsa would be good. But maybe just adding the chipotle and/or Southwest and the green would help. I talked to a host about it last night and told her what my preferred changes would be after tasting it, but not everyone has the same tastes, some people like bland. Personally, if it's mexican it needs kick, in my world. Can't wait to try it my way.

 

[BettieC]

I made this tonight, and like it, but definitey have to tweak it next time.

I was surprised that I found it to be a bit bland as well. I can't tolerate heat, and thought it could use a kick....lol. So maybe cook the chicken with some SW. I would saute the onions a bit. I really didn't like the crunch of the onions.

More cheese! I love cheese...lol.

All in all, it was tasty, but needs a few changes.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I had this at our Spring Regional Meeting and wasn't overly impressed. It has potential, but it definitely needs a kick! Maybe the green sauce will do it, didn't know there was that big a difference in the flavors. I also, prefer flour tortillas to corn, so I would change that, and I would have to precook the onion, don't like any crunch to my onion. Also, I think an addition of salsa would be good. But maybe just adding the chipotle and/or Southwest and the green would help. I talked to a host about it last night and told her what my preferred changes would be after tasting it, but not everyone has the same tastes, some people like bland. Personally, if it's mexican it needs kick, in my world. Can't wait to try it my way.

It's funny, because mine was really good (and I like lots of flavor!) - but there were 4-5 versions of it there, so I wonder if it had to do with the type of sauce used, or if whoever made the one I had used more spices???

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Thanks for the info! Good to know.

I think I will try this with the Green Enchilada Sauce (I made Chicken Enchiladas this past weekend and DH preferred the Green Sauce over the Red Sauce.)

But, I am curious as to how this would taste without the Cilantro since DH & both dislike it.

Maybe adding the SW seasoning will cause the ommission of the cilantro to be less noticeable!

I dislike cilantro so much that I wrote a poem about it.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

It's funny, because mine was really good (and I like lots of flavor!) - but there were 4-5 versions of it there, so I wonder if it had to do with the type of sauce used, or if whoever made the one I had used more spices???

I wondered about that too... I guess I assumed that since they were making it for that demo that they'd make it as is and not add to it... but who knows. I know that my main dislike was the corn tortillas (I just don't like them) and the crunch of the onion. The rest I could live with... But, you're probably right, it depends on who makes it...

 

[esavvymom]

So here is MY review:

Following Kitchen2U's advice some-

I used FRESH Cilantro (which I would have done anyway). I picked up the wrong sauce at the store, but fortunately, had 2 (10 oz) cans of enchilada sauce in my pantry- one green and one red- both mild.
I used a Neufchatel cream cheese, so that may have dropped a FEW fat grams- haven't checked with my WW recipe builder to see yet though.
I diced up some leftover chicken from a previous meal.

I used about 1 cup more of the Monterey Jack Cheese- 2 cups was stirred into the cheese mix instead of 1.5 cups, and 1 cup put on top at the end instead of 1/2 cup.

OH MY GOODNESS!! IT IS SO GOOD! Even my son liked it. The mild sauce made it just barely spicy- which was perfect for me. I don't know if because it was mixed red and green, if that helped versus just all red, but it was fabulous. My DH isn't home yet- but I know he will love this recipe. And it gave me a great way to use up some corn tortillas that I had left from a failed attempt at making my own taco shells!

The recipe is very easy. I wasn't sure at first why they used the small scoop on the cheese mixture, but after doing it- I realized, it did make it easier to spread around in smaller amounts, versus trying to do it with a spatula. I think also, using the 20 oz of sauce, versus the 28 oz- it wasn't too saucy/runny...which I thought was perfect.

OH- and the cream cheese/jack cheese/cilantro mix you make up, tastes excellent straight off the spoon! I scraped the bowl. It would make a great cream cheese dip for chips or veggies or something. :thumbup:

So if you haven't tried the new Mexican Chicken Lasagna, and you like Mexican or enchiladas- try this recipe!:chef:

 

[AZPampered Chef]

I made this recipe tonight, and the only alterations were to spice the chicken breasts with SW and Chipotle seasonings before cooking, and adding more cheese (combo sharp cheddar and MJ)

It was a hit in my family. I will make this one again!

 

[letscook04]

I am really disappointed that it did not turn out all that good!! I not a fan of it! :thumbdown:

 

[Jessamary]

I am really disappointed that it did not turn out all that good!! I not a fan of it! :thumbdown:

I feel the same way, but I think we had too much cilantro in it. I had my husband aka "Above-Average Man" make it with no help from me. He really liked it, but also said there was too much cilantro in it.

My boys (6, 3) wouldn't touch it. The baby (20 months) LOVED it. Which really makes me wonder!

I will try it again, though.

 

[Grandmarita]

I finally made this Monday night. Of course, I doctored the ingredients to use what I had
purchased by mistake. i.e. Multigrain tacos rather than corn; mild wal-mart salsa, mixed with about 4 oz. red enchilada sauce; Mexican shredded cheese rather than Monterey jack; extra creamed cheese 12 oz. rather than 8 oz. It was fabulous but my mouth was on FIRE. I used dried cilantro and am blaming the heat on that. I took the remainer to our Cluster meeting tonight and everyone who tried it did not experience the HEAT I did last night. So, I had another serving and it was calmed down enough to have a second taste. I will definitely make this again, and use basil or parsley rather than the cilantro.
I will continue to use the salsa for the texture and volume it gives.

 

[pamperedchef07]

Some of us consultants in my area got together and made this. A few things we would change is a little less sauce, we used more cheese anyways, less onion, and I thought it needed more cilantro but I LOVE cilantro. My husband thought it need salt. My son (3yr) took 2 bites and wanted nothing to do with it. Otherwise, it was good, and I love the idea of anything in the microwave that takes less time to cook and not heat up your house.

 

[Triciascucina]

I made the dish last night and it was a hit. We did not have corn tortillas so we used 6 Whole wheat tortilla fajita style and only two 10 ounce cans of the sauce. Used fresh cilantro. I thought of adding garlic and southwest mix to chicken next time. DH said too many onions. We served it with rice and Mexican corn. I will be doing this again at my next show.

 

[mommyford]

I made this at my last show. Tweaked it a little. I did use the green sauce. I sprinkled Southwestern Seasoning to the chicken, added 1 garlic clove to cream cheese mix, added olives to the layers. Then I had them top off with sour cream with the ead.

 

[chefshawna]

I finally made this Monday night. Of course, I doctored the ingredients to use what I had
purchased by mistake. i.e. Multigrain tacos rather than corn; mild wal-mart salsa, mixed with about 4 oz. red enchilada sauce; Mexican shredded cheese rather than Monterey jack; extra creamed cheese 12 oz. rather than 8 oz. It was fabulous but my mouth was on FIRE. I used dried cilantro and am blaming the heat on that. I took the remainer to our Cluster meeting tonight and everyone who tried it did not experience the HEAT I did last night. So, I had another serving and it was calmed down enough to have a second taste. I will definitely make this again, and use basil or parsley rather than the cilantro.
I will continue to use the salsa for the texture and volume it gives.

Cilantro...spicy?? I've never thought of cilantro as being spicy, did you have mild red sauce. Maybe the spice was from the sauce, salsa or the mexican cheese, I know that cheese has some spices on it. I think of cilantro as being more minty and fresh than spicy, maybe I'm wrong!

Do you think this would be good with flour tortillas instead of corn?? I do not like corn tortillas at all!!

 

[chefann]

Do you think this would be good with flour tortillas instead of corn?? I do not like corn tortillas at all!!

Flour tortillas would (in my opinion) create a gluey mess. The corn tortillas are a little heartier and hold up better in the sauce.

 

[pampchefrhondab]

I made this at my show last Sunday. I cooked the chicken in the DCB before the guests arrived. I sprinkled the Southwestern Seasoning over the chicken before I cooked it so when the guests arrived they smelled it. Everyone said, "It smells so good." I then used the Salad Choppers to cut up the chicken. This sells so many of them!

I did everything else as the recipe calls for. I thought we could have used a little less enchilada sauce, but maybe if it sat longer it would have soaked up more. Everyone was hungry!

I thought the taste was great! I usually don't eat at my shows, but I never had a chance to make the recipe before the show. This was the third one with this group of women so the host offered me some since she knew I hadn't tried it!