Enchiladas are prepared two different ways: rolled and stuffed with ingredients or stacked like pancakes and layered with ingredients. When rolled, the tortillas are lightly fried in vegetable oil, stuffed with the ingredients of your choice and then topped with mole, red chile sauce or green chile sauce and cheese. When stacked, after the tortillas have been lightly fried, they are dipped in red or green chile. They are then layered with the desired ingredients. Standard enchilada ingredients include cheese and onions, served plain or with your choice of beef, chicken or pork. There are also hundreds of recipes, including any number of ingredients. Stacked enchiladas are often topped with a fried egg.
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Enfrijoladas are like enchiladas, but feature beans as a major ingredient. Tortillas are lightly fried in oil then dipped in a crushed or puréed bean sauce with garlic. They can be rolled or stacked with cheese and onions and are typically topped with salsa and sour cream. Sometimes beef or chicken may be offered as fillings. Stacked enfrijoladas are often topped with a fried egg.
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Tacos are the Mexican version of a sandwich. They come in fried or steamed corn tortillas or in soft wheat flour tortillas. In most cases, they are folded; however, you may come across fried rolled tacos called Flautas or Taquitos. Ingredients vary widely depending on where you are and what type you decide to order. Some varieties include al carbon (grilled beef), al dorado (rolled and fried with shredded chicken or beef), al pastor (shaved marinated pork), carnitas (pork simmered with orange rind), camarones (shrimp), machaca (shredded beef), pescado (fish) and pollo (chicken). In addition to shredded lettuce and cheese, other garnishes may include sliced cucumbers, radishes, red and green salsas, sour cream, lime wedges and guacamole.
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Tamales are made of masa (corn meal and vegetable oil or lard), which is stuffed with various ingredients, wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. There are a number of different types of tamale ingredients, the most common being shredded beef, chicken or pork that is simmered in red chile sauce.
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Tostadas Compuestas are crisp fried corn tortillas, either flat or shaped in a bowl, which are topped or filled with various ingredients. The most common are red or green chile con carne, shredded cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Some recipes may also call for beans, sliced marinated beef or chicken, pico de gallo and sour cream.
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