Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

From EatingWell: September/October 2007 — Subscribe Now!

Filled with bell peppers, pinto beans, mushrooms and onions, these colorful enchiladas can be mostly made ahead--perfect for entertaining. Pass some crumbled queso fresco, chopped fresh cilantro and diced avocado at the table.

6 servings, 2 enchiladas each

Active Time: 1 1/4 hours

Total Time: 1 1/2 hours

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

Sauce

1 poblano pepper, or green bell pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, (optional)
8 ounces tomatoes, roughly chopped, plus diced tomato for garnish
1 cup vegetable broth, (see Note)
1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped, plus more leaves for garnish

Filling

3 bell peppers, (1 each red, yellow and orange), diced
8 ounces cremini (baby portobello) mushrooms, diced
3/4 cup diced red onion
4 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 15-ounce can pinto beans, rinsed (see Note)
12 6-inch corn tortillas

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°F.
To prepare sauce: Roast poblano (or bell) pepper directly over the flame of a gas burner, turning frequently with tongs, until evenly charred. (Alternatively, char under the broiler, turning once or twice, for 5 to 7 minutes total.) Transfer to a deep bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to steam for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add yellow onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, cumin, chili powder, paprika and ground chipotle (if using) and cook, stirring, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Peel the pepper, discard the stem and seeds, and chop. Add to the saucepan along with chopped tomatoes, broth and chopped cilantro. Return to medium heat and cook, uncovered, at a steady simmer, until the liquid has reduced slightly and the tomatoes have broken down, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.)
To prepare filling: While the sauce simmers, place bell peppers, mushrooms and red onion in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 4 1/2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Roast, stirring halfway through, until the vegetables are tender and browned in spots, about 15 minutes total. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in beans. Reduce oven temperature to 375°.
To prepare enchiladas: Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place a skillet over medium heat. Coat both sides of a tortilla with cooking spray. Heat in skillet for 5 to 10 seconds per side, adjusting the heat if the pan gets too hot. Spread 1/3 cup of the filling and 1 tablespoon of the sauce down the middle of the tortilla and roll it up to enclose the filling. Place seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, filling and sauce. Spread the remaining sauce and filling over the enchiladas.
Bake, uncovered, until hot, about 15 minutes. Serve garnished with diced fresh tomato and cilantro leaves, if desired.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare the sauce (Steps 1-4) and the filling (Step 5); cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Note: Check labels of vegetable broth, spices and beans: some brands may contain unexpected allergens or gluten, which people with celiac disease can't tolerate.

Nutrition

Per serving: 269 calories; 8 g fat (1 g sat, 4 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 45 g carbohydrates; 9 g protein; 9 g fiber; 753 mg sodium; 726 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (120% daily value), Selenium (25% dv), Potassium (21% dv), Vitamin A (20% dv), Magnesium (19% dv), Folate (16% dv).

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 1/2 fat