Chicken Enchiladas With Pasilla Chili Sauce

2 tbsp peanut oil
1 2-oz. package dried pasilla
1 chilies, stemmed, seeded,
1 torn into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup whole blanched almonds,
1 chopped
4 chicken breast halves
6 cup chicken stock or canned
1 low-salt broth
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
4 plum tomatoes, cored,
1 quartered
1/2 onion, quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tbsp firmly packed golden brown
1 sugar
1 tsp coarse salt
1 peanut oil (for deep frying)
16 corn tortillas
2 1/2 cup grated montery jack cheese
1 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
1 avocado, peeled, seeded,
1 sliced
1 fresh cilantro sprigs

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large pot over high heat. Add chilies and
almonds. Saute until chilies darken and almonds are golden, about 2
minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chilies and almonds to bowl.
Reduce heat to medium. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to
same pot and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add stock; simmer
until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer chicken
to another bowl using slotted spoon; cool. Reserve stock in pot.

Toast cumin seeds in heavy small skillet over medium-low heat until
aromatic, about 1 minute. Mince cumin seeds. Add cumin, chili
mixture, tomatoes, quartered onion, garlic, sugar and salt to stock.
Simmer until all ingredients are very soft, about 45 minutes.

Working in batches, puree stock mixture in blender. Return to pot.
Boil until reduced to 4 cups, stirring occasionally, about 20
minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill
chicken and sauce separately.)

Remove skin from chicken and discard. Cut meat from bones and shred.
Transfer to bowl and combine with 1/2 cup sauce. Set filling aside.

Oil two 13X9-inch glass baking dishes. Pour oil into deep skillet to
depth of 1/2 inch and heat to 375-degree F. Fry tortillas 1 at a time
until softened, about 5 seconds per side. Using metal spatula,
transfer to paper towels. Spread 1 tablespoon sauce over each
tortilla. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons cheese and 1 tablespoon
chopped onion. Place 1/3 cup chicken down center of each tortilla;
roll up. Place seam side down in baking dishes. (Can be made 1 hour
ahead. Cover.)

Preheat oven to 350-degree F. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until heated through, about 20
minutes. Top with creme fraiche, avocado and cilantro.

SOURCE: BON APPETIT, April '93

Servings: 16