Low Carb, Grain Free Cheese and Onion Enchiladas

  

This is a super simple, low-carb meal that can be assembled ahead and then baked just prior to serving. I recently made several trays of enchiladas for a large gathering and everyone raved and asked for the recipe. The tortillas (or Mexican-style crepes) were made a day or two ahead and the red sauce was whipped up in the blender in a matter of minutes, so it took no time at all to prepare a delicious and satisfying meal for a party of over a dozen people. The nice part was that I assembled the enchiladas in their baking pans on the morning of the event, then just popped them in the oven to bake later, which allowed me to socialize with my guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen. Served with a big salad, some non-GMO corn chips for the carb-eaters and a simple dessert, the evening was a huge success and I never broke a sweat! Cinco de Mayo is coming up on May 5th. If you're looking for a stress-free, festive meal to feed your family or a crowd, then this is the recipe for you.

Grain Free, Mexican-Style Tortillas (or Crepes)

Makes 6 tortillas

1/4 cup mild-flavored nut butter (room temperature), such as cashew, macadamia or almond

2 large eggs

3 tablespoons milk (or non-dairy milk)

1 tablespoon melted butter, ghee or coconut oil

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Melted butter or coconut oil for cooking

Whisk together all of the ingredients until the nut butter is fully incorporated and the batter is smooth (it will be somewhat thin). Using a small sauté pan, heat over medium-low heat and brush a thin layer of the melted butter or coconut oil around the inside of the heated pan to prevent sticking. (I used an inexpensive, 8" non-stick omelet pan which only required a thin coating of oil. Adjust this amount if needed for your pan.) While holding the heated pan off the heat in your dominant hand, quickly pour a scant 1/4 cup of batter into the center of the pan and immediately begin to swirl the batter around to create a round, very thin tortilla. Keep swirling until the batter firms up in the shape you desire. (To see my YouTube video demonstrating this crepe-making technique, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhzXjJ2HVeM). Replace pan onto the heat and cook the tortilla for about 1 minute until slightly brown around the edges. Very carefully flip the tortilla and cook the second side for about 45 seconds. Remove tortilla to a plate to cool. Repeat until all the batter is gone. Set aside tortillas until you're ready to assemble the enchiladas. For storage, place a piece of parchment paper between each tortilla to prevent them from sticking together. These can be made 1-2 days ahead and refrigerated, although bring to room temperature before rolling the enchiladas for the greatest flexibility. 

Nutritional Information per tortilla (no filling): 117 calories, 2.3 g carbohydrate (0.6 g dietary fiber, 0.2 g sugar) 10.8 g total fat (3.2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 66 mg cholesterol, 50 mg sodium, 24 mg calcium, 52 mg potassium, 3.4 g protein. Net carbs per serving: 1.7 grams

Easy Blender Enchilada Red Sauce

Makes 2-1/2 cups (10 servings)

2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce (no sugar added)

1/2 cup water

1/4-1/2 teaspoon stevia powder (or 2-4 teaspoons erythritol sweetener), to taste

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1-3 tablespoons chili powder, to taste

1-2 teaspoons ground coriander, or to taste

1-2 teaspoons ground cumin, or to taste

1/8 teaspoon sea salt, optional or to taste

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. (When a measurement range is given for a spice, start with the smallest amount and add more if you like yours spicier. I admit, I'm a wimp and like my sauce mild.) Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.

Nutritional Information per 1/4 cup serving (no salt added): 20 calories, 4 g carbohydrate (1.2 g dietary fiber, 1.7 g sugars), 0.2 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 336 mg sodium, 5.3 mg calcium, 150 mg potassium, 0.6 G protein.  Net carbs per serving: 2.8 grams

 

Low Carb, Grain Free Cheese and Onion Enchiladas

Makes 6 enchiladas

6 Grain Free, Mexican-Style Tortillas, room temperature (see recipe above)

1-1/4 cups Easy Blender Enchilada Red Sauce (see recipe above)

1/2 pound sharp cheddar, cut into six 3/4" logs

1 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack Cheese Blend

6 green onions, chopped (separate white part from green part)

Place 1/2 cup of the Enchilada Red Sauce into a baking pan and spread around to cover the bottom of the pan. Take one cheddar cheese log, roll it inside one tortilla and place it into the sauce-covered baking pan. Repeat with remaining cheese logs and tortillas. Top each enchilada with about 3 tablespoons of the red sauce and spread with a spoon to cover. Evenly divide the white part of the chopped onion over the enchiladas, then sprinkle 1 cup of the Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese over all.  Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and top with the chopped green onion and serve.

Nutritional Information per enchilada: 324 calories, 8 g carbohydrate (2 g dietary fiber, 2 g sugars), 25.8 g total fat (12.9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 86 mg cholesterol, 659 mg sodium, 437 mg calcium, 205 potassium, 1119 mg Vit A, 6 mg Vit C, 17 g protein. Net carbs per enchilada: 6 grams

Recipes by Kathy Sheehan, copyright 2017

All rights reserved. Please do not duplicate without author's permission.