Serves: 6
Total Calories: 1,219

2 1/2 pounds boneless beef stew meat
5 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more for frying
3 cloves garlic (medium), chopped
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican variety preferred), crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Ancho Chile Sauce for Enchiladas
1 large white onion, chopped
1 (7-ounce) can diced green chili
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
12 (6- to 7-inch) corn tortillas
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
3 , thinly sliced green onions, , green and white parts
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1/2 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
3 teaspoons fresh chopped cilantro

1. Trim the meat of fat or gristle. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a large pot. Brown the meat in batches, and remove to a bowl until all pieces are browned. Return the meat to the pan, and add the garlic, bay leaf, oregano, salt, pepper, and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. Remove pan from the heat and cool the meat to lukewarm in the broth. Remove the meat and shred. Cover and reserve. Save the broth for the enchilada sauce.

2. Prepare the ancho chile sauce. Then, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet and cook the onion, stirring, until it starts to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the diced green chiles, cumin, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the shredded meat. Add salt, if desired. Remove from the heat.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°.Grease a large 11- × 16- inch baking pan, with an edge, large enough to accommodate 4 tortillas laid out flat, so that they don't overlap. Heat oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a medium skillet, and soften the tortillas, 1 at a time, by passing through the hot oil, holding the edge with tongs, until limp, about 3 seconds. Drain on paper towels. Stack and cover to keep them soft and warm.

4. Ladle a thin film of the reserved enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan. Place 4 tortillas side by side in the pan. Top each tortilla with about 4 tablespoons of the meat mixture. Place a second tortilla over the meat. Top with meat as before and place a third tortilla over the meat. Cover each stack completely with chile sauce. Sprinkle the tops of each stack with 1/3 of the grated cheese, 1/3 of the chopped onion, and 1/3 of the sliced olives. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the sauce bubbles, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into wedges. Dollop each serving with crema or sour cream and sprinkle with cilantro.

From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 6
Total Calories: 1,219
Calories from Fat: 913

More Recipes from the 1,000 Mexican Recipes Cookbook:
* Enchiladas, Tamales, and Tortilla Casseroles
Baked Aztec Chicken Casserole
Basic Corn Tortilla Dough
Basic Corn Tortillas
Basic Crepes
Basic Tamale Dough
Black Bean Enchiladas
Cheese Enchiladas in Red Sauce
Cheese and Tortilla Casserole
Chicken and Tortilla Casserole with Green Sauce
Corn Crepes
Corn Crepes with Chicken and Corn
Crepes with Corn Mushroom
Folded Tortillas in Bean Sauce
Folded Tortillas in Pasilla Chile Sauce
Folded Tortillas in Tomato Sauce
Fresh Corn Tamales
Masa Dumplings
Meatball and Tortilla Casserole
Mushroom Crepes
Pork and Tortilla Casserole
Potato and Tortilla Casserole
Seafood Enchiladas
Stacked Beef Enchiladas
Swiss Enchiladas
Tamales Wrapped in Swiss Chard
Tamales in Banana Leaves, Oaxaca Style
Tamales with Beef or Pork
Tamales with Chicken
Tamales with Jalapeños, Cheese, and Corn
Tamales with Shrimp
Tamales, Monterrey Style
Tortilla, Bean, and Corn Casserole
Tortilla, Corn, and Zucchini Casserole
Tortillas in Ancho Chile and Red Pepper Cream Sauce
Turkey Enchiladas in Green Sauce
Vegetable Enchiladas
Vegetable Tamales with Black Bean Sauce
White Flour Tortillas
Yucatán Tamale Pie