Huevos Rancheros Recipe

Using adobo sauce in this lively egg dish adds a subtle smoky flavor without the hassle of roasting and cleaning fresh peppers. Plus, the recipe includes a nifty method for softening tortillas

Ingredient:

• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 (5-inch) corn tortillas
• 2 (14- to 15-ounce) cans whole tomatoes in juice
• 1/2 cup chopped white onion
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus additional for sprinkling
• 1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo
• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 large eggs

Preparation:

1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 200°F. Stack 4 ovenproof plates on oven rack to warm.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Stack 2 tortillas in skillet and cook 30 seconds, then flip stack over with tongs and cook 30 seconds more. While second tortilla cooks on bottom, turn top tortilla over with tongs, keeping tortillas stacked. Flip stack again and cook in same manner, turning over top tortilla and flipping stack again so that both tortillas are softened and both sides puff slightly, then deflate (do not let them become browned or crisp). Wrap tortillas loosely in foil and keep warm in oven. Fry remaining tortillas in same manner, adding 1 tablespoon oil to skillet for each batch. (Do not clean skillet.)
3. Purée tomatoes with their juice, onion, cilantro, chipotle, garlic, and salt in a blender until very smooth. Carefully add mixture to hot skillet (it may spatter) and simmer, stirring occasionally, until salsa is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then crack 4 eggs into skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes for runny yolks, or to desired doneness. Transfer to a plate and keep warm, covered, then cook remaining 4 eggs in remaining tablespoon oil in same manner. Season eggs with salt and pepper.
5. Spoon 1/4 cup salsa onto each plate and top with 2 tortillas, slightly overlapping them. Transfer 2 eggs to tortillas on each plate and top with some of remaining salsa. Sprinkle with cilantro.