Eat for Eight Bucks: Vegetable Enchiladas Recipe

I've never managed to take an attractive picture of enchiladas, so instead here are some of the raw ingredients. [Photograph: Robin Bellinger]

Shopping List

1 pound squash (pro-rated): $1.00 1 bunch chard, stems only (pro-rated): $0.50 3/4 cup dried black beans (pro-rated): $0.50 Cilantro (pro-rated): $0.60 Small can chopped green chiles: $1.89 6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese: $1.50 1 package corn tortillas: $1.79

Pantry items: Salt, pepper, rice to serve on the side; for chili gravy, canola oil, flour, salt, pepper, ground cumin, dried oregano, chili powder, powdered garlic.

Total cost (for 3 to 4 portions): $7.78

I'm pretty sure Diana Kennedy would not bless this recipe for vegetable enchiladas, but it does make for a fast and versatile dinner. You can use pretty much any leftover cooked vegetables (or meat, for that matter); I used diced roasted squash and sautéed chard stems. If you don't like the idea of beans in your enchiladas, just use another cup of vegetables. The most important thing is to make your chili gravy delicious; taste it carefully before you sauce everything up. I love the Robb Walsh recipe posted by Homesick Texan.

To bring this in under $8, I had to cook my own squash and beans. If you substituted canned beans and squash (both of which work perfectly well), $10.37 would satisfy three ravenous or four regular appetites. I see now that the real big-ticket item here is the can of chopped chiles; maybe next time I'll try roasting a couple of poblano peppers at home instead.

Vegetable Enchiladas