Querétaro enchiladas are the state’s typical dish. Corn tortillas are dipped in a guajillo or ancho chile sauce seasoned with garlic and oregano, and briefly pan-fried. They are then filled, usually with fresh cheese and onion or shredded chicken, folded and covered with crema, grated cheese and lettuce.
The accompaniment that identifies them is potato and carrot cut into cubes, boiled and then fried in the same sauce. Tradition links the dish to the arrieros, muleteers who crossed the Bajío carrying goods, for whom chile-seasoned tortillas were a practical food to carry. This story is told as a local tradition.
Querétaro enchiladas have relatives in neighboring states, like the mineras of Guanajuato and the potosinas, but each has its own preparation; Querétaro’s trademark is the potato and carrot accompaniment. In Querétaro, cheese is a prominent ingredient because the state has a cheese-making tradition, especially in the Tequisquiapan region.
The dish appears at breakfast and lunch in fondas and regional kitchens across the state, and is made at home for Independence celebrations in September.