Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (2024)

Jump to the recipe

Have you tried Vegan Enchiladas Verdes yet? I love these red sauce enchiladas here. But if you looking for a change then give this green sauce enchiladas a try! This vegetarian enchilada recipe is for all you busy folks out there who want to put dinner on the table with minimum preparation time. I have some smart make ahead of time tips for you as well which makes enchiladas possible in a snap. These green sauce enchiladas are vegan and gluten free too.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (1)

What is Enchilada Verdes ?

Enchilada is a very popular Mexican casserole dish made with stuffing soft tortillas with vegetables, beans or meat , cheese . Every tortilla is filled , rolled and placed in a baking dish. These enchiladas are then covered with ethnic Mexican sauce, either Mole , Verdes or Suiza. Then Enchilada casserole is baked to perfection.

Verdes refers to green sauce that can be made two ways –

  1. Made by roasting or puree of green tomatillos and then blending it with green chilies and spices to make a smooth flavorful green sauce .
  2. Made with only green chilies ,spices, veg stock and using cornstarch as a thickener .

Good news is that you may buy a jar of ready made tomatillo sauce aka salsa verde or green chile enchilada sauce that are available in cans at the grocery stores. This will make the process of making enchiladas quick .

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (2)

What is the Difference between Salsa Verde and Green Chile Enchilada Sauce ?

Salsa Verde is tangy because of the tomatoes where as green chile enchilada sauce is not .

Both are available in different spice levels like mild, medium and hot. Pick the one that suits your taste buds.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (3)

Ingredients of Vegan enchiladas with green sauce –

Enchilada is made up of 2 components –

  1. Filling
  2. Sauce

For the filling I have used the classic vegetarian combination of jalapeno , onion ,spinach and mushrooms with lots of garlic. On the protein front I have used black beans too. This vegetarian enchilada filling has clean uncomplicated spices. I have used some cayenne and smoked paprika for heat and oregano , roasted ground cumin , cilantro for a great flavor. Of course salt and pepper is a must too.

For the sauce I have used store-bought mild salsa verde aka green roasted tomatillo sauce . To be specific I have used Archer’s Farm Roasted tomatillo salsa verde. It was chunky so I gave it a quick blitz in my blender for a smoother texture .

You may use a can of Green chile enchilada sauce too.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (4)

If you like red sauce enchiladas then I have a delicious homemade enchilada sauce recipe for you here. You may choose to use store-bought one too.

I had some vegan cheese waiting to be used so I have added a little in this recipe. Feel free to use more and your favorite one.

Truly speaking this casserole recipe is very forgiving and you can customize it to your taste .

Details about possible substitutes is mentioned in the notes section below the recipe.

Store bought tortillas and the sauce makes the process of making these enchiladas a breeze. You may always choose to use homemade from scratch stuff too 🙂

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (5)

How to make enchiladas ?

Prepare the rolling station as shown in the photos above.

Pre heat the oven to 375 deg F .

If tortillas are cold and not pliable warm them on a skillet 5-10 seconds each side or in a microwave for 10 seconds.

This will avoid breaking of the tortillas while rolling.

Cover a 7*11 baking dish with tomatillo sauce on the base and sides.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (6)

Now lightly spread some tomatillo sauce on a tortilla as shown in the photo.

Place the filling in the center. Add some cheese if desired. Do not over fill.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (7)

Now roll the tortilla to form a cylinder.

Place the prepared enchiladas in the baking dish seam side down .

Repeat this process for other tortillas until the baking dish is filled.

Now spread more sauce over the top covering the tortillas.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (8)

Cover with foil and bake in a pre-heated oven for 25 minutes.

If topping with cheese then after 25 minutes take out the foil and bake for additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbly.

Enjoy with some nachos on the side and desired toppings.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (9)

Liked this recipe?Do give it a star rating in the comments !

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (10)

Print recipe

4.46 from 22 votes

Vegan Enchilada Verdes

Vegan Enchilada Verdes aka green sauce enchiladas makes a delicious plant based Mexican meal for your entire family.

Course lunch/ dinner

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

10 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Adjustable Servings -3 people

Calories 461kcal

Author Khushboo

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 2 Portobello mushrooms or 12 small button mushrooms washed, cleaned and chopped
  • 7 cups packed spinach leaves
  • ½ cup onions chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic or 1 heaped tablespoon of garlic paste
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Couple twists pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 can Black Beans
  • 1 cup dairy free cheese optional
  • 1 can / 16oz / Homemade or store bought Roasted Tomatillo sauce / salsa verde mild
  • Six count medium size tortillas , gluten free or of choice *

Additional toppings (Optional)

  • Fresh salsa / Pico de Gallo
  • Fistful of cilantro chopped
  • Vegan sour cream
  • Sliced Jalapenos

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a wide pan. Once warm add in the onions and some salt.

  • Cook it until wilted and translucent . Approx 2 minutes.

  • Now add in chopped garlic or garlic paste.

  • Cook for 30 seconds.

  • Add in mushrooms and increase the heat to medium high for a minute.

  • Stir once or twice in between to avoid scorching at the bottom.

  • Add in all the spices and salt that are called for.

  • Now reduce the flame to medium low and continue cooking the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes until they are wilted and tender.

  • Add in the spinach in batches. Wait for the first half to wilt and then add another half.

  • Continue cooking for 1 minute.

  • Now add in the beans and cook for a minute more.

  • Give it a taste check and adjust spices if needed.

  • Let the mixture cool before proceeding with filling the enchiladas.

  • Prepare the rolling station as shown in the photos above.

  • Pre heat the oven to 375 deg F .

  • If tortillas are cold and not pliable warm them on a skillet 5-10 seconds each side or in a microwave for 10 seconds.

  • This will avoid breaking of the tortillas while rolling.

  • Cover a 7*11 baking dish with tomatillo sauce on the base and sides.

  • Now lightly spread some tomatillo sauce on a tortilla as shown in the photo.

  • Place the filling in the center. Add some cheese if desired. Do not over fill.

  • Now roll the tortilla to form a cylinder.

  • Place the prepared enchiladas in the baking dish seam side down .

  • Repeat this process for other tortillas until the baking dish is filled.

  • Now spread more sauce over the top covering the tortillas.

  • Cover with foil and bake in a pre-heated oven for 25 minutes.

  • If topping with cheese then after 25 minutes take out the foil and bake for additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbly.

  • Carefully take out the casserole with help of oven safe mittens .

  • Place it on a cooling rack or hot food safe coaster.

  • Enjoy with the toppings mentioned.

Notes

Recipe to enchiladas with homemade red enchilada sauce here.

You may use a can of Green Chile enchilada sauce instead of salsa verde.

This recipe can be doubled or halved easily. The filling can be customized with your choice of veggies like zucchini , yellow squash , bell peppers, eggplant to name a few.

You may add or skip cheese or use of your choice.

Make filling up to 3 days ahead of time .

I have used 7*11 pyrex glass pan to make these enchiladas. You will be left with some filling that I used to make quesadillas . If using 9*13 pan then you will be able to make 8 enchiladas in total.

Nutrition

Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 696mg | Potassium: 674mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 5300IU | Vitamin C: 17.9mg | Calcium: 402mg | Iron: 4.2mg

Tried this recipe?Click photo & send it @carveyourcraving or tag #carveyourcraving on Facebook or Instagram to be featured!

If you love your food with Mexican flavor these fusion recipes are calling your name –

Tex-Mex loaded pasta bake .

Instant Pot Mexican quinoa.

Vegan Chipotle Jungle Curry.

Don’t forget to pin and share this Vegan Enchiladas Verdes recipe for future reference.

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (11)Hope you like this easy recipe on how to makeVegan Enchiladas Verdes and give it a try. Let me know if you have any questions below in the comment section.Never miss a recipe . If you like being here do subscribe to my blog.Make sure you have us in your contact list so that the recipe does not land in spam folder. Carveyourcraving(at)gmail(dot)com .

Are we friends yet . Let’s connect on-Facebook| Instagram | Pintrest | Twitter

Happy cooking!!!Do share it with the world!!!Thanks for stopping by!!

IF SHARING ,PLEASE LINK BACK TO THE POST AS REPRODUCING, DISTRIBUTING OR COPYING PICTURES OR TEXT/ RECIPES THAT BELONG TO CARVE YOUR CRAVING IS A COPYRIGHT VIOLATION. YOU CAN ALWAYS LINK BACK TO THE WEBSITE.

Some more recipes like this below -

Vegan enchiladas verdes ( green sauce ) A quick casserole dinner recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make canned green enchilada sauce better? ›

Add stock - Chicken, beef, or vegetable, stocks pack a ton of flavor - because they are prepared by simmering bones and vegetables in water for hours, often with herbs and spices until the flavor is extracted - and can instantly elevate the flavor of canned enchilada sauce.

What's the difference between green enchilada sauce and salsa verde? ›

The main difference between green enchilada sauce (verde sauce) and salsa verde is that enchilada sauce is cooked, and salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce also requires liquid (either stock or water), but salsa verde ingredients are simply blended together and eaten as is.

What is a substitute for green enchilada sauce? ›

Salsa Verde is a fantastic replacement for green enchilada sauce. Most salsa Verde is a little simpler than green enchilada sauce, often just a mix of tomatillos and jalapenos without other spices. Enchilada sauce is often a bit more complicated, including onions, garlic, spices, and other additions.

What is the difference between enchiladas Rojas and Verdes? ›

The main difference is usually this one: Red sauce (salsa roja) is prepared with tomatoes (jitomate or tomate rojo). Green sauce (salsa verde) is prepared with tomatillos (miltomate or tomate verde).

What can I add to canned sauce to make it better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

How do you thicken green enchilada sauce? ›

Or alternately, you can thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry (equal parts cold water and cornstarch whisked together, then added to the sauce once it has reached a simmer). Storage instructions: Let the sauce cool to room temperature.

Can I use salsa verde instead of enchilada sauce? ›

You can use store-bought green chile enchilada sauce or salsa verde for this recipe. I like the options from Hatch, Las Palmas, and Frontera. Or, to make it from scratch, try this homemade salsa verde made with tomatillos, green chile peppers, and garlic (it's amazing).

Which is hotter red or green enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between red and green enchilada sauce is the type of chili that was used. Red enchilada sauce is made with red chilies (in this recipe, ground red chilies or chili powder). Green enchilada sauce is made with green chilis, tomatillos, and sometimes jalapeños, so it tends to have a larger heat range.

Can you substitute green salsa for green enchilada sauce? ›

No, they are not quite the same. Although you could use salsa verde for enchiladas, I don't really think you'd want to use enchilada sauce as a salsa. The ingredients in each are similar, as another person mentioned, but the consistency is not usually the same.

How do you make green enchilada sauce less bitter? ›

Sugar And Flour Are All You Need To Fix Bitter Canned Enchilada Sauce.

How do you tone down green enchilada sauce? ›

Most green enchilada sauce recipes will tell you to add a seeded serrano pepper. This chili packs a fiery punch between 10,000 to 23,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). So, instead of serrano, you can opt for a small jalapeño. Rated only between 2,000 to 8,000 SHU, this will reduce the spice down to only a gentle tingle.

Is there a taste difference between red and green enchilada sauce? ›

Most green enchilada sauces use green chilis, which includes jalapenos and serrano, tipping off the spicy scale. As with any color chili, green sauces range from mild to hot. Red enchilada sauce, on the other hand, is typically made from a variety of red chilies, vinegar, onions, garlic and spices.

Why are they called divorced enchiladas? ›

They are called 'divorced' enchiladas because one is covered in green salsa and the other in red salsa! Subscribe to our free CTP download, to be kept up to date with all cookery items.

Why are green enchiladas called suizas? ›

Finally, the simplest version is that since the green sauce is prepared with crema and a lot of cheese, it was given the name of Swiss enchiladas, since Switzerland is famous for its cheeses and dairy products.

Who invented enchiladas verdes? ›

Origin of the Enchilada

The Mayans were among the first people to make what resembled enchiladas with empty corn tortillas immersed in chili sauce. Later on, when Spanish conquerors reached Mexico, they recorded the dish and added other ingredients to it.

How do you tweak canned enchilada sauce? ›

To make your canned enchilada sauce taste homemade, grab some butter, a little flour, and some chicken stock. This trifecta of ingredients infuses a canned enchilada sauce with a satisfyingly thick texture and a rich, savory flavor.

How do you get the bitterness out of canned enchilada sauce? ›

Before you assemble your enchiladas, heat the sauce up and whisk in a little flour and sugar to taste. The flour will neutralize some of the bitterness and thicken the sauce a bit in the process. This can be a good thing, too, as canned enchilada sauce is usually a little thin in consistency.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Last Updated:

Views: 6301

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Birthday: 2001-01-17

Address: Suite 769 2454 Marsha Coves, Debbieton, MS 95002

Phone: +813077629322

Job: Real-Estate Executive

Hobby: Archery, Metal detecting, Kitesurfing, Genealogy, Kitesurfing, Calligraphy, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Gov. Deandrea McKenzie, I am a spotless, clean, glamorous, sparkling, adventurous, nice, brainy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.