Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Sauce *
1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped 1 tsp. canola oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 tbs. chili powder 2 tsp. cumin 1 tbs. sugar 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce 1 c. water 1 tomato, seeded and chopped OR 1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes Salt and pepper 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 c. shredded sharp white cheddar cheese, divided 1 c. shredded monterey jack cheese, divided 1/2 c. minced fresh cilantro 12 8-inch corn or flour tortillas Cooking sprayCombine the onion, jalapeno, and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the onions and peppers have softened, 8-10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and sugar, and cook just until fragrant, less than 30 seconds. Mix in the tomato sauce, water, and chopped tomato. Bring the sauce to a simmer, lower the heat, and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the chicken is completely cooked through, about 12-20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool.
Strain the sauce through a large mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing down on the onions and tomatoes to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer the reserved solids to a large bowl and set aside. Season the sauce with additional salt and pepper to taste. Shred the chicken into bite size pieces and add to the bowl with the onion mixture. Add in ¼ cup of the enchilada sauce, 1/2 cup of each of the shredded cheeses, and the cilantro. Stir to combine.
Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Oil a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Stack the tortillas on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 40-60 seconds, until warm and pliable. Spoon 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture evenly down the center of a tortilla. Roll up the tortilla around the filling tightly, and place in the prepared baking dish, seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining filling and tortillas.
(Optional: Lightly spray the tops of the enchiladas with cooking spray. Place in the oven, uncovered, for 7 minutes or until the tortillas start to brown slightly. Remove from the oven.)
Pour sauce over the top of the enchiladas. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is browned. Remove from the oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.