Las Manitas Enchiladas Zacatecanas

Source: Las Manitas, Austin, Texas - texasmonthly.com

Chicken Filling:
1 whole frying chicken, giblets and excess fat removed
1/2 medium onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
4 sprigs cilantro
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste

Put whole chicken, sliced onion, whole garlic clove, and 1 tablespoon salt in a pot with enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is done, about 30 minutes (it will be cooked more later). Remove from pot and let cool; reserve broth. Remove meat from bones and shred.

In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add all remaining ingredients except for tomato sauce and salt, and saut until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in shredded chicken and saut briefly. Add tomato sauce and 1/2 cup reserved broth. Taste before adding salt.

Zacatecana Sauce :
4 poblano chiles
1 1/4 cups grated Monterey jack cheese, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus some for frying
3/4 cup sour cream
2 flour tortillas, torn in quarters
1 1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste
10 corn tortillas (white-corn or other good quality)

Roast chiles over an open flame until blackened. Let cool to the touch, then (wearing rubber gloves) rinse under running water to remove skin. Seed and devein chiles and tear into several pieces. Place in a blender with 1 cup water, 1/4 cup cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon sour cream, and the flour tortillas and pur e until smooth. Add water if necessary; sauce should be moderately thick and pourable.

Heat a small amount of olive oil in a saut pan over medium-high heat. Add the sauce and salt, reduce heat to low, and simmer, lightly bubbling, for 5 minutes.

To serve, heat a small amount of oil in a skillet or saut pan. Quickly fry corn tortillas for 2 seconds on each side. Fill with chicken and roll up. Place enchiladas on plates, seam side down. Pour sauce on top, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and garnish with dollops of remaining sour cream.

Makes 8 to 10 plump enchiladas.