Ground venison enchiladas

Browning the meat in pork lard and using great quality sauce are the key to these “better than restaurant” venison enchiladas.

Enchiladas really do use so few ingredients that it’s worth going to the effort to get the good ones. The main stars here are the venison, tortillas, sauce and cheese. Using great ingredients is the difference between pretty forgettable enchiladas, and ones that are as good as your local Mexican restaurant. The tortillas, the sauce, and the cheese are the key here.

Take care to trim your venison grind

Processing your venison properly is an often overlooked factor when it comes to a delicious result. That starts with cutting the meat up to grind it. The best tasting grind is free of any silverskin or cartilage, so you want to be sure to trim that away. The cleaner your pieces of meat before you grind them, the higher quality your finished grind will be. Double passing the meat through a grinder (or better yet, using one that does it for you in one pass like this LEM dual grind machine) will also give you a great raw ingredient to start the recipe with.

Don’t forget to toast your tortillas

I prefer using corn tortillas which are the more traditional choice for enchiladas. And unless you have an amazing authentic tortilleria in your ‘hood, heed my advice.  The key is to make sure you warm the tortillas BEFORE you dip them.  Most corn tortillas will be a little brittle out of the package, and if you try to dip them then roll them, they will split. Warming them up makes the tortillas far more pliable and roll-friendly. Theoretically, you could even do this step in a microwave, but warming them on a comal or skillet will also develop a bonus toasted flavor.

Buy the right enchilada sauce

Here’s what I’ve come to learn is the real secret to this recipe – you have to use good enchilada sauce. It can absolutely be from a can, but it’s gotta be the good stuff. Generally, the sauces that are imported from Mexico or aren’t a major brand name are best. To me, the “Old El Paso” style sauces are quite watery and lack any real depth of flavor, while the imported ones are richer, thicker and much more developed in flavor and color. I love to use this La Victoria enchilada sauce (you’ll need four cans of it because they’re smaller than average).

Splurging on cheese gives you meltier results

If you want that instagram-worthy cheese pull finish, don’t skimp on the cheese. That means both price and quantity. Cheap cheese just doesn’t taste as good, and often will melt away to nothingness. Use more than you think you’ll need for a really cheesy finish, and try to choose cheeses known for their melting ability. I recommend colby jack, cheddar, asiago or if you can find a Mexican blend, even better.

Final recipe notes:

1. I like to add a few dashes of Salsa Maggi to the meat mixture to give it a little oomph. It’s essentially liquid MSG (which is totally not bad for you and has a ridiculously unfair reputation) and helps bring out extra umami in the meat.
2. The recipe calls for lard to be used to cook the meat. This is definitely more traditional, but is also quite important when it comes to using venison. Since venison is so lean, the lard will help with the browning and add extra flavor and moisture to the meat. If you prefer not to use lard, you can use oil instead.

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Ground venison enchiladas

Ingredients

• 2lb ground venison
• 1 tablespoon lard
• 40-50 oz enchilada sauce
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4-5 dashes of Maggi sauce (optional)
• 3 cups frozen chopped spinach
• 16 oz shredded cheese
• 16 corn tortillas

Instructions

1. Melt the lard in a large pan over high heat. Add the venison and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Add the salt, onion, maggi sauce and spinach. Cook a further 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 20oz (1/2) of the enchilada sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
3. Warm the tortillas using a comal or skillet, then set aside. Warm the remaining enchilada sauce in a saucepan or microwave. Preheat an oven to 350f.
4. Now it's time to assemble the enchiladas. Pass a tortilla through the warmed sauce, letting any excess drip off. Place the tortilla on a board, and spoon in a generous amount of the venison filling. Roll the edges over then place it seam side down in a large casserole or pyrex dish. Repeat until all enchiladas have been formed.
5. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas, then spread the cheese down the middle of the pan. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbling and melted. If you made the filling in advance, you may need to bake a little longer until the enchiladas are warm throughout.