Ingredients
Yellow Mole Sauce:
- Pinch saffron with hot water (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, white or yellow, rough chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 2 yellow bell peppers (or one orange and one yellow for BEST color)
- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds (or raw cashews)
- 2 teaspoons coriander
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground annatto (optional)
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 3/4 teaspoons salt, more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (optional, for color)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice (zest it, save for filling)
Shrimp Enchilada Filling:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons jalapeno, finely chopped
- 1 lb shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2-2 cups shredded mozzarella or queso fresco (6 ounces), divided
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 8 x 6-inch corn tortillas
Garnish:
- Cilantro
- Radish, thinly sliced
- Microgreens
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare saffron: Pour 2 tablespoons boiling water over the saffron and let it sit to infuse color and flavor.
- Make the yellow mole sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cover and steam for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in coriander, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and saffron water; cook for one minute. Add chicken broth and pumpkin seeds, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook gently for 10-15 minutes until seeds soften. Cool slightly, blend until creamy and smooth. Stir in lime juice and turmeric if using. Adjust seasoning and cayenne to taste.
- Prepare enchilada filling: Chop shrimp into small pieces. In a skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat, add garlic and sauté briefly. Add shrimp and jalapeno, cooking for 2-3 minutes until shrimp start to turn opaque. Add corn, oregano, lime zest, salt, and pepper. Cook until shrimp are fully cooked. Drain any excess liquid if present. Stir in cilantro, 1/2 cup mole sauce, and half of the cheese. Taste and adjust salt, heat, and acidity as desired.
- Warm tortillas: Heat tortillas in oven, microwave, a pan, or over a gas flame until pliable, then wrap in a towel to keep warm and soft for rolling.
- Assemble enchiladas: Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place about 1/2 cup shrimp filling in each tortilla, roll tightly, and place seam-side down in the dish.
- Add sauce and cheese: Pour remaining mole sauce over the rolled enchiladas, reserving some for plating if desired. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly on top.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Serve: Heat reserved mole sauce if using for plating. Spoon some sauce onto plates, place enchiladas on top, and garnish with thinly sliced radishes, chopped cilantro, and microgreens before serving.
Notes
- These enchiladas can be made a day ahead and refrigerated; bring them to room temperature before baking.
- If desired, you can substitute the yellow mole sauce with a creamy poblano sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Ground annatto in the sauce is optional and sometimes hard to find; you can omit it without affecting the dish significantly.
- Adjust cayenne pepper according to your heat preference, adding more if needed after blending the sauce.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican