PProvenance
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Cooking in
Trail · the Kootenays
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Mexican

Enchiladas de Santa Clara

A Poblano preparation in which corn tortillas are dipped in an ancho chile sauce bound with beaten egg, then fried briefly in lard until the coating sets into a rough, irregular crust. A slice of fresh cheese is tucked inside each folded tortilla so that it begins to soften from the residual heat. Kennedy notes the origin as uncertain, placing it within the culinary tradition of Puebla. The technique is distinct from the more familiar baked or sauced enchilada: here the egg-enriched chile coating fries directly onto the tortilla surface, producing a texture closer to a thin egg crepe wrapped around cheese than to a sauced roll. The result is immediate and unforgiving — these must be eaten the moment they leave the pan.

‹Swipe for the next dish›
Serves2–3 / Makes 12 enchiladas
Within reach2of 7 in Trail

Two in town · five not yet within reach.

How the 7 are reached
In town
2 · garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped, eggs, beaten
Not yet within reach
5 · chiles anchos, rounded teaspoon sea salt, or to taste, ~½ cup melted lard or safflower oil, for frying, corn tortillas, 4½-inch, pound queso fresco, sliced approximately ¼-inch thick
Cook
I

The Market List

The benchmark for each ingredient, and who stocks it near you. Tap a stockist to go straight to the product.

4
chiles anchos
Not yet within reach of Trail · each reach is counted
~1 cup water
Your own market
1
garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped
1
rounded teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
Not yet within reach of Trail · each reach is counted
~½ cup melted lard or safflower oil, for frying
Not yet within reach of Trail · each reach is counted
12
corn tortillas, 4½-inch
Not yet within reach of Trail · each reach is counted
½
pound queso fresco, sliced approximately ¼-inch thick
Not yet within reach of Trail · each reach is counted

Within reach counts in town, delivered, shipped and the nearest city. A staple counts once it has a local seller. Charted from each shop's own pages; not yet vouched by a cook who shops here.

The larder of Trail →

Each tap is counted, so the stockist sees the demand Provenance sends them.

II

The Method

1
Toast anchos on a dry comal over medium heat until fragrant and slightly softened, turning often. Do not scorch.
2
Remove stems and seeds. Soak in water until flesh is fully pliable, about 20 minutes.
3
Transfer anchos and soaking water to a blender with garlic and salt. Blend until smooth. Adjust water for a sauce that coats a spoon.
4
Stir beaten eggs into the sauce until fully combined.
5
Heat lard or oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat to approximately 180°C / 356°F.
6
Dip one tortilla into the egg-chile sauce, coating both sides, and allow brief draining.
From the canon — The corn tortilla is the foundational food of Mexican cuisine — a thin, round disc of nixtamalized masa cooked on an ungreased comal (flat griddle) until it … Tortilla — hand press, comal, and the puff →
7
Fry approximately 10 seconds per side until the coating is set and the surface appears rough and irregular. Drain.
8
Immediately place a slice of cheese on one half of the tortilla, fold over, and transfer to a warm plate.
9
Repeat with remaining tortillas. Serve at once.
III

What to Pour

Pouring for British Columbia · ·

The pairing
1897 Amber Ale
Stanley Park Brewing · Metro Vancouver
Stanley Park Brewing · Vancouver →
Beer
From British Columbia
Beldame
Strange Fellows Brewing · Metro Vancouver
Strange Fellows Brewing · Vancouver →
Beer lager
Without alcohol
Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling
Weingut Leitz · Rheingau
Not yet stocked in British Columbia
Non-alcoholic

Each tap is counted, so the stockist sees the demand Provenance sends them.

Why each one works is part of membership — Enter · from $49 a year →

The whole pairing
Pillar IV
Origin and lineage are part of membership.
Where the dish comes from and how it came to be — on every recipe.
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