1/2cupdried beans (such as Moro or Black)(or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans from 1 can)
1bay leaf
salt
1large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/4" dice (12 ounces)(2 cups)
light olive oil or sunflower oil
1large yellow onion, peeled and diced (1 generous cup)
leavesfrom 1 bunch chard, washed and torn coarsely
1cupcrumbled fresh goat cheese, plus extra for garnish(4 ounces)
2cupsloosely packed grated jack cheese, divided use(7 ounces)
12corn tortillas
2cupsenchilada sauce (homemade or store bought; I like Sweet Creek's mild sauce)
handful cilantro leaves, chopped, plus extra for garnish
Instructions
Make the filling:
If you can, soak the beans overnight. Drain the beans and place them in a medium saucepan, cover with 2-3 inches of water and add the bay leaf. Bring the beans to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the beans are quite tender, but not falling apart. This can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, so check the beans frequently and add more water to keep them submerged. When the beans are mostly tender, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the pan.
Meanwhile, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400º. Toss the cubed sweet potato with 1 tablespoon of oil and a few pinches of salt and spread it out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast the sweet potato until tender and golden in places, flipping the cubes halfway through, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wide skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Season with a big pinch of salt. Scrape the onion into a large mixing bowl and wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
Add the chard leaves and a splash of water to the pan. Cover the pan and let the chard steam until wilted and bright green, 3-5 minutes, tossing the chard once or twice for even cooking. Drain the chard, rinse with cool water, then squeeze all the moisture out of it and chop it coarsely. Add it to the bowl with the onion, then add the sweet potato.
Drain the beans well. Add them to the vegetables and toss everything together. Taste for seasoning, adding salt if needed, then toss in the goat cheese and all but 1/2 cup of the jack cheese. Add the cilantro and taste again for seasoning.
Assemble the enchiladas:
Pour 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish (lasagna pan). Position a rack in the center of the oven and decrease the temperature to 350º.
Coat a medium skillet with a thin layer of oil and place it over a medium flame. Add a tortilla and heat for 10 seconds on each side until heated through and pliable. Place the tortilla on a cutting board, and place 1/4-1/3 cup of filling on the lower third of the tortilla, squishing the filling into an oblong shape. Roll up the tortilla and place the roll seamside-down in the baking dish.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling until all the filling is used up. Pour 1 cup of the sauce all over the enchiladas, and cover the pan tightly with foil.
Bake the enchiladas until the sauce is bubbling and the enchiladas are heated through, 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with the remaining sauce, and sprinkle the remaining jack cheese over the tops. Bake until the cheese is melted, 5 more minutes.
Serve the enchiladas garnished with cilantro leaves and goat cheese. They are best when freshly baked, but extras keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days; reheat in an oven or toaster oven until heated through.
Notes
Beans cook faster if you have the foresight to soak them overnight; if not, just simmer them until they're tender. They'll take a bit longer than if you had soaked them. The bay leaf supposedly helps make beans more easily digestible, and it adds a lovely depth of flavor. You can use 1 1/2 cups (1 can) of cooked black beans in place of cooking your own. Drain them and rinse off the goo before combining them with the other ingredients.Avocado and sour cream make nice garnishes to serve with your enchiladas, especially leftovers which dry out when the tortilla absorbs the sauce. If you happen to make Avocado Tomatillo Salsa with your extra cilantro, that goes well, too.These keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days, but are best when fresh from the oven the first time around.Nutritional values are based on one of six servings.