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

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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)

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

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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 .

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

FAQs

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

Green Enchilada Sauce Versus Salsa Verde

There are two main differences between green enchilada sauce and salsa verde. Enchilada sauce is cooked, while salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce is thinned out with a liquid (usually stock or water), while salsa verde is simply chopped or puréed vegetables and peppers.

How do you make canned green enchilada sauce taste better? ›

Improving upon canned enchilada sauce

If you're using fresh garlic, onion, or peppers, sauté those first in a bit of oil, then combine the butter, stock, and seasonings. Mix in the flour to thicken it, then pour in that canned enchilada sauce, and bring the mixture to a boil.

Why is my enchilada casserole soggy? ›

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

What is the secret to non soggy enchiladas? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

What can I use instead of 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.

How to thicken green enchilada sauce? ›

Pureeing some of the cooked vegetables or beans in the sauce to add thickness.
  1. Adding a starch such as cornstarch, flour, or masa harina. ...
  2. Cooking the sauce for a longer period of time to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
  3. Pureeing some of the cooked vegetables or beans in the sauce to add thickness.
Jun 6, 2017

Do I need to add anything to canned enchilada sauce? ›

How to Improve Canned Enchilada Sauce -Ingredients
  1. unsalted butter or bacon grease.
  2. all-purpose flour.
  3. canned red enchilada sauce.
  4. chicken or beef stock.
  5. salt.
  6. chili powder or chipotle chili powder*
Nov 17, 2023

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.

Why is my green enchilada sauce bitter? ›

If you taste your enchilada sauce and find it has a bitter or sour aftertaste, this could be simply due to the acidity of the peppers or tomato, if added. Not to worry. Mix in agave syrup or brown sugar, starting with 1/2 teaspoon and adding more until the taste is evened out to your liking.

Should you cover enchiladas while baking? ›

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside. Transfer the baking dish to a wire baking rack. Serve. Serve the enchiladas immediately while they're nice and hot and melty, garnished with lots of fresh toppings.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

How to keep enchiladas from getting hard on the bottom? ›

Some recipes suggest spreading a little sauce (½ cup for a 3-quart baking dish) on the bottom of the pan before adding enchiladas. This keeps the tortillas from sticking to the pan or getting tough on the bottom.

Should you heat flour tortillas before making enchiladas? ›

It's important to pre-cook the tortillas because not only does cooking them help soften them for rolling, cooking them in a little fat helps develop the flavor of the tortillas.

How to make enchiladas more crispy? ›

Preheat your pan

Try preheating your enchilada pan in the oven before you start cooking. Adding your tortillas intoan already-warm pan instead of a cold one will help them start cooking and getting crispy right away, rather than risking sogginess.

What does green verde sauce taste like? ›

The best salsa verde is tangy, fresh, and should add a punch of zesty flavor to anything and everything. In my opinion, salsa verde (aka green salsa) is one of the most delicious foods on the planet. Its tart, herby, savory flavor is so perfect.

Is salsa verde the same as green tomatillo sauce? ›

Salsa verde in Mexico is a green salsa, which could be tomatillo or avocado based. However, salsas are typically referred to by ingredient, not color.

What is the green sauce at Mexican restaurants? ›

This recipe for salsa verde is my version of an authentic Mexican salsa recipe! The main ingredients for a salsa verde are tomatillos and serrano peppers. But, there are many variations and techniques to make a salsa verde.

What does green enchilada sauce taste like? ›

It is believed that green sauce is not very spicy. However, as the tomatillos can be slightly sweet, the green chilies add to the heat. Some green sauce recipes will also have jalapenos and serrano which cranks up the heat. Green sauce ranges from a mild to hot spicy flavor.

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