Well, today’s dish of the day is Chilaquiles. If you try to Google it, you’ll see that the dish looks similar to nachos. What sets chilaquiles apart from nachos is the vibrant colours and the egg on top.
Chilaquiles is commonly eaten for breakfast by Mexicans. Besides, this dish is also a great idea to reuse stale tortillas. It’s a comforting plate of fried tortillas covered in chile sauce or salsa, eggs and cheese.
What is Chilaquiles
As we mentioned above, it’s a Mexican breakfast delicacy made with corn tortillas as the base. Instead of the usual beef and salsa, Chilaquiles is typically topped with avocado, Queso Fresco – a type of cheese often used in Mexican cuisine, salsa verde, beans and sunny side up egg. The main difference between Chilaquiles and Nachos is that Chilaquiles are usually made using tortillas that are semi-soft to give it its chewy texture.
Often it is seen by the Mexicans as comfort food – the kind of breakfast food you get if you visit your home after long periods. Moreover, this dish is usually eaten using a fork compared to nachos, where people typically use their hands.
The History of Chilaquiles
This dish doesn’t have a complicated history or origin. In fact, most of the ingredients like avocado and tortilla are native to Mexican cuisine. According to records, Chilaquiles can be traced back centuries to the early Aztecs. The name itself originated from the ancient word in the Aztec Nahuatl language referring to “chillis and greens.” It is also believed that Chilaquiles have existed in Mexico for hundreds of years and that each family has their own unique way of preparing the dish.
While the dish has been part of the Mexican’s lifestyle for centuries, it is said to have been first introduced to Americans in 1898 through a cookbook by Encarnación Pinedo entitled “The Spanish Cook”.
Chilaquiles remains as a famous dish because of one simple concept. That is, as a way for families to use leftover ingredients and transform them into something hearty and nutritious. Today, Chilaquiles is widely available in Mexican restaurants around the world.
Nutritional Content
A full serving of the dish can contain about 700 to 900 calories, but not all of those calories are bad. Avocado, one of the main toppings of the dish, is a good source of healthy fat, Vitamin C, K, E and B6. These vitamins help your body cells regenerate and repair itself. In fact, Vitamin E and Vitamin B6 are often used in skincare product for its healing properties.
This dish also contains eggs which is a good source of protein and Omega-3 that is essential to help prevent brain diseases.
Where to get Chilaquiles in KL
There are a few places where you can get this dish in KL. The first place you should visit is the JOLOKO Bar, where they serve this breakfast dish with runny egg yolk. Another place you can check out is Casa Latina and Cacao Lab in Desa Pahlawan, where they serve their Chilaquiles De Carne Asada with grilled beef on top.
Want a Mexican breakfast in bed instead? Order using the foodpanda app and relax as your food come to you!