CHICKEN BURRITO CASSEROLE

This is a recipe that I have made for many years in different ways.  It is a great family dinner.  Recently I worked up a real recipe, which it never had before.  It makes a big hearty casserole that will feed 8 easily.  The leftovers freeze well or heat up nicely. 

1.In a medium sauce pan put 1 T. oil and grate in 2-3 cloves of garlic and 2 tsp. fresh ground  cumin seeds (in a mortar and pistil)  or use ground cumin.  Sauté until the garlic starts to brown.

2.  Add 3-4 large chopped jalapeno  peppers (minus the seeds and white membrane to control the heat)  or 1 can chopped green chiles.

3. Add 4 C. chicken broth.  (I usually use a rotisserie chicken for this.  After removing all the meat I boil the bones and skin and strain the broth for use here)

 

4. Simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir together ¾ C. flour and ¾ C. water to make a thickening paste and stir into the broth and cook for 1 minute siring and boiling gently.

5.  Stir in 1 C. sour cream.  Remove 1 ½ C. for the top.  Add 4 cups cooked chicken to the remaining sauce. 

6. Spray a 9X13 pan with non-stick cooking spray and put about ½ c. sauce in the bottom of the dish, spread to cover as much as possible.  Lay 6 , 8-inch flour tortillas around the edge of the dish sticking half out.  Tear one tortilla in half for the bottom.

7.  Spread 1 Can of refried beans across the bottom of the tortillas and one can of drained and rinsed black beans on top.

8.  Cover with 8 oz grated or sliced cheese--cheddar or Monterey jack.  Pour the chicken and sauce over this and fold over the tortillas.  Cover the hole with the other half you used in the bottom.

9.  Pour the saved sauce over the top and top with more grated cheese.  Cover and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 if you just made it.  If you are baking it cold, pre-prepared it will take about and hour.  Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.  Cut into squares or just scoop out and serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

I also make this with leftover roast beef and gravy.  Hamburger also works with tomato sauce instead of thickened broth and 1 T.  chile powder with the other spices.