Chilaquiles

Breakfast is a major event in Mexico, and it's usually the most important meal of the day. Chilaquiles are a popular breakfast dish that consists of lightly cooked tortillas that have been chopped into smaller pieces. They're then topped with salsa and a variety of breakfast dishes like eggs, cheeses, cream, or chicken, and served with refried beans, also known as frijoles.

Ingredients

• 12 corn tortillas, preferably stale, or left out overnight to dry out a bit, quartered or cut into 6 wedges, Corn oil, Salt, 1 1/2 to 2 cups red chile sauce or salsa verde, store-bought or homemade (see end of recipe for homemade versions), A few sprigs of epazote, optional, Garnishes, Cotija cheese or queso fresco, Crema Mexicana or creme fraiche, Cilantro, chopped, 1 red onion, chopped, Avocado, sliced or roughly chopped

Instructions

• Fry the tortillas. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add about a quarter of the tortilla wedges and cook, flipping once, until lightly brown and crisp.
• Drain the tortilla chips. Drain the freshly fried tortilla chips on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat this process until all tortillas are fried, adding more oil if needed.
• Make the salsa roja. Place the tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and garlic in a blender or food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pour in 1 cup of the broth. Blend until smooth.
• Cook the salsa. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the salsa and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes (the consistency of the salsa will vary depending on the size and juiciness of the tomatoes). Add additional broth to thin out the salsa, if needed. Taste and season with salt as needed.
• Coat the chips with the salsa. Add the tortilla chips and stir carefully to coat the chips. Cook until the tortillas are heated through, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt as needed.
• Serve warm. Serve warm garnished with avocado or guacamole, crema, queso fresco, and/or fried eggs, if desired.