Definition & Meaning of "enchilada"

What is "enchilada"?

An enchilada is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla filled with a savory ingredient and topped with a chile-based sauce. To make enchiladas, corn tortillas are fried or briefly heated to soften and make them pliable. Each tortilla is then filled with a portion of a chosen filling like shredded chicken, roasted vegetables, or beans and cheese. The filled tortillas are arranged in a baking dish and topped with a chile sauce made with peppers, tomatoes, and spices. Common sauce types include red sauce from ancho chiles and green sauce from tomatillos and serranos. The enchiladas are then baked until the tortillas are soft and the filling is heated through. As the enchiladas bake, the chile sauce soaks into the tortillas and coats the filling, infusing the dish with the distinctive aromas and flavors of the sauce.