Baked Chimichangas

Have you ever wondered what to do with leftover chicken, beef or pork?  Well, here’s a fun idea…

Last night for Sunday dinner, Bill slow cooked some roast beef in the oven.  I poured a can of beef broth on top and added a little “Better Than Bullion” (great flavor with no MSG).  We also put in some carrots, onions, garlic and celery for extra flavor.  Then Bill made some mashed potatoes and broccoli…talk about comfort food.  It was amazing.  So now we have all of this leftover beef.  That’s when I decided to try something new.  Normally chimichangas are deep fried which makes them way too unhealthy and fattening.  My version allows for a crispy exterior without the fat and calories.  We love Mexican food so this is quite a treat.  Add a salad and bam, dinner is done!  So easy, quick and delicious…this is my kind of meal! Serve with salsa, sour cream, my Holy Guaca-Molé and salad.

Baked Chimichangas

• 3 cups pre-cooked chicken, beef or pork roast (leftovers work great)
• Pan drippings or 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 green pepper, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 T coconut, avocado or grape seed oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 6 flour tortillas
• Salsa (optional)
• Grated cheddar cheese
• 1 T butter, melted
• 1 T olive oil

Sauté onion and green pepper in the coconut oil (or olive oil at a low temperature).  Add garlic cloves and cook until everything is soft.  Add meat of your choice as well as pan drippings or some chicken broth.  Cook until meat is warm and liquid is almost gone.

Pre-cook or warm flour tortillas (to soften for rolling).  Spoon meat into tortilla.  Add grated cheddar cheese and salsa (optional).  Roll up “burrito” style.  Place on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam.  In microwave, melt butter together with olive oil.  Using a pastry brush, moisten the under and top side of each rolled tortilla.  Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20 minutes or until tortillas reach desired crispness.

Root Notes

• The tortillas I had were quite small for rolling these correctly.  To be honest, these look more like burritos!
• Also, let’s be real, anything deep fried tastes amazing.  But, this method does work and is so much better for you.  Try it and see what you think.  Delicious food with no (well not much) guilt!
• Finding tortillas without hydrogenated vegetable oil and all kinds of additives is not a simple task. easy. I recommend the flour tortillas at Trader Joes or “Tortilla Land” brand that you cook yourself (from the refrigerator section).