These are the Best Vegetarian Enchiladas Ever! Not only because of the delicious produce packed into the warm tortillas, but also because of the method in which the vegetables are cooked, and a secret, unexpected ingredient . . .
I've been making these vegetarian enchiladas for a few years now, and the baking dish is always left totally empty.
Vegetarian or not, everyone loves them!
While I serve them as individual enchiladas, they're baked like a vegetarian enchilada casserole -- all snugly fit together to fit the baking dish.
So now I'm happy to share the best vegetarian enchiladas ever with you!
It's so incredibly tasty, and I love making these for family dinners, and on the weekends when people might come over.
I'm hoping you'll feel the same way once you try them.
Why is this recipe the best?
- I love to layer flavors as I sauté, and it's this process that makes the vegetables in these enchiladas so delicious.
- The key is cooking each "layer" to perfection, before adding the next. And by "perfection," I mean achieving a beautiful golden caramel color. Caramelizing them -- bringing all of the natural sugars to the surface for maximum flavor.
- The pan is deglazed with a secret ingredient: vermouth!
- These enchiladas make for one hearty, healthy, and super yummy meal. Great for lunch or dinner -- and you can crack an egg over them for breakfast, too!
What's the best enchilada sauce to use?
I always cook these crazy delicious vegetarian enchiladas in one of two of my favorite two enchilada sauces -- Ancho Chile Enchilada Sauce or Smoky Pasilla Enchilada Sauce. Both have deep, rich, smoky flavors.
You can also use your favorite recipe, or to save time, a bottled sauce you like.
And if you prefer a green sauce, try this homemade Tomatillo Sauce.
This is a true comfort food all around. And trust me, even a meat and potatoes carnivore would devour this!
Enjoy every last bite of what I hope you agree are the best vegetarian enchiladas ever!
Best Vegetarian Enchiladas Ever!
The reason this is the Best Vegetarian Enchilada Recipe Ever is not only because of the delicious produce packed into the warm tortillas, but also because of the method in which the vegetables are cooked.
- olive oil for the pan
- 1½ cups red onion, (finely chopped )
- 1½ tablespoons garlic, (minced)
- 1½ cups red bell pepper, (finely chopped )
- 3 tablespoons jalapeño pepper, (seeds removed, super finely chopped )
- 1¾ cup fresh white corn ((from about 3 ears))
- ½ cup dry vermouth or sherry
- 1½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, (washed and dried, roughly chopped)
- 6 cups loosely packed fresh, baby spinach leaves, (washed and dried)
- salt and pepper to taste
- about 2¼ cups Ancho Chile Enchilada Sauce or Pasilla Sauce*
- 2½ cups Mexican cheese blend (Sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack are great), (shredded)
- 10 small corn or flour tortillas ((use corn for gluten-free version))
- avocado and tomato slices to garnish ((optional))
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and coat it with the olive oil.
- Add the onion and cook until it's soft and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic, red pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Continue to cook over medium-high heat, stirring periodically until everything is soft and beginning to brown, another 5 minutes or so. Now add the corn and cook for just a couple of minutes.
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Turn off the heat and deglaze the pan with the vermouth. Turn the heat to medium and cook off the vermouth almost completely -- this should take about 2 minutes.
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Stir in the cumin, lime juice, and cilantro. Add the spinach and cook for another few minutes, just to wilt it. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's How.)
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Pour ¾ cup of the enchilada sauce into a rectangular baking dish, approximately 9 X 13 X 2-inches, and spread it out. Then one at a time, assemble the enchiladas:
Add 1 more cup of the enchilada sauce to a shallow bowl and dredge a tortilla into it, coating both sides. Then add about ⅓ cup of the vegetable mixture, in a line, in the center of the tortilla and sprinkle it with about 1 tablespoon of the cheese. Roll the tortilla and place it to one end of the dish, with the seam side down. Repeat this process with the other 9 tortillas. Add the remaining enchilada sauce and cheese evenly over the top of the rolled enchiladas.
- Place uncovered in the oven until the cheese is melted and the tortillas have softened a bit, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Serve with freshly sliced avocados and and tomatoes if desired.
Use any enchilada sauce you like -- and it's fine to buy a bottled/canned one you like too, to same time. I use Ancho Sauce or Pasilla Sauce.
Using the corn tortillas makes this a perfect gluten-free meal!
Calorie count is only an estimate.
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Mimi from California Avocados Direct
What beautiful enchiladas...and what beautiful avocados! We'll be linking to your post so all of our California Avocados Direct fans can see it. Thanks for the shout-out on Twitter.
valentina
Thanks, Mimi -- I'm a huge CA avocado fan!
Shannon
I just made these tonight for my boyfriend and I. He is vegetarian so it is always challenging to find something that he can eat that I will also enjoy. These were INCREDIBLE! We also added a can of drained black beans to give the filling a little more "meatiness". This is definitely a recipe I will be sharing with others and will be making again!
valentina
Thanks so much, Shannon! My brother is a vegetarian, and I'm always so happy to make vegetarian meals that we ALL love! 🙂
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Homemade enchiladas are so fun and tasty. Love the addition of spinach and that enchilada sauce is totally awesome!
Claudia Lamascolo
well since I dont eat meat I just hit the jackpot here cant wait to try this sounds fantastic!
valentina
Excellent! Enjoy! 😀
Jill
I really like layering flavors as I cook too! Terrific recipe, especially since you use homemade enchilada sauce!
valentina
Thanks so much, Jill. 😀
Lisa Bryan
I'm obsessed with Mexican food and all of those flavors sound like heaven right now! Yum!
valentina
Hope you try it, Lisa! 🙂 Thanks!
Camila Hurst
did someone say comfort food? This is absolutely amazing!!! I am totally all about these flavors!
valentina
Yay! Thanks, Camila. Hope you try and love it!
David
Sounds wonderful! I love enchiladas and want to try these with both the ancho chile sauce AND the tomatillo sauce.
valentina
Thanks so much David! 🙂 xo
georgie @ georgieeats
I love this! I am going to try this recipe at the weekend and let you know what I think... Thank you for sharing!!
valentina
I hope you love it! 😀
Camila Hurst
I grew up a vegetarian, so I love love love vegetarian recipes! Thanks for sharing this!
valentina
Thanks, hope you try it!
Sara
These really do look like the best enchiladas ever, love all those fresh and colorful ingredients in the filling!
valentina
Thanks so much, Sara. 🙂
Natalie
You did had a big party Valentina? I bet you often spend the whole day cooking and eating than cooking and eating xD
The enchilada looks delicious with the advocado. For me, I'd like to add more vegetable into a vegan's dishes, like cauliflower :p
valentina
Oh, roasted cauliflower would be a delicious addition! Yum.
Natalie
Looks absolutely delicious and rich! I love enchilada - it's one of my favorite Mexican dishes. Can't wait to try your recipe ♥
valentina
Thank you, Natalie. Hope you enjoy!
Emily
There's so much flavour packed into this I can just tell how delicious they'd be, saving!
valentina
🙂 Thank you!
Brian Jones
Interesting use of vermouth in a spicy 'red' sauce I usually associate it with rich and creamy sauces, really must give it a try with something different.
valentina
Yes, when I first made these I was just adding various things I had on hand, and when I refined it, I kept the vermouth. I thought twice before adding it, but loved the deep flavor it added. 🙂
Margaret
Can I assemble these and then freeze?
valentina
Hi Margaret, Forgive my delayed response -- I've been on vacation and just returned. Hopefully I'm not to late. While I haven't frozen them before baking and serving, I can't see why it would't work very well. I would suggest thawing them completely before placing them in the oven. Enjoy and if you have a moment, I'd love to hear how it goes. 🙂
Barbara
These were delicious! Made enough for the 3 of us for 2 meals. Will definitely make this recipe again.
valentina
Thanks so much for sharing, Barbara.This makes me so happy! 🙂
Savita sastry
Looking very yummy... We r vegetarians and love all these international cuisines... I try at home too... Could you post a video too... And there are some ingredients which we don't get it here locally... Like vermouth and the blended cheese... What can we substitute them with...
valentina
Hi there. Thanks so much for checking out my recipe. 🙂 Instead of vermouth, you can use a subtly sweet white wine, but a dry white wine would be good also. And the Mexican cheese blend is typically a combination of Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack, so you can use either of those. I'm sorry I don't have a video, but I'm starting to make recipe videos in February, so very soon! I hope this helps and I hope you love these enchiladas!