SOL Mexican Cocina’s Goat Cheese Enchiladas
Credit: Sharon Williams

How to Make SOL Mexican Cocina’s Decadent Goat Cheese Enchiladas

This Savory Mexican Dish Is a Fiesta for Your Taste Buds!

SOL Mexican Cocina in Irvine brings the flavors of Baja to life with the culinary expertise of Chef Israel Salazar. Neutral finishes, palm accents and luxe lounge seating create a refined and relaxed dining atmosphere for enjoying coastal cuisine. Unwind in the warm hospitality of Mexico with authentic flavors and scratch-made classics, a SOL favorite being the savory and sweet goat cheese enchiladas.

SOL Mexican Cocina Goat Cheese Enchiladas
Credit: Sharon Williams

SOL Mexican Cocina’s comforting goat cheese enchiladas stand out from counterparts due to their Mexico City influence. Mild salsa verde complements the tart flavor of goat cheese, creating a harmonious balance.

“We wanted to combine our traditional salsa verde with a more atypical cheese like goat cheese to add a twist to classic cheese enchiladas,” Chef Salazar explains.

It all starts with SOL’s zesty salsa verde. Enhancing the buttery yet bold flavor of goat cheese, tomatillo tomatoes are simmered down into a light and tangy salsa verde—made with white onion, jalapenos, garlic, cloves and cilantro. The finished salsa is set aside while each corn tortilla is hand-fried to a delicately crisp texture. Warm tortillas are then layered with rich goat cheese and an authentic Mexican cheese blend before being tightly rolled, locking in their creamy fillings before being baked to melty perfection. Chef Salazar elaborates on the Mexican home-cooking techniques used to prepare one of his signatures: “This dish is a taste of comfort that transports me back to meals at my grandparents’ house.”

When ready to serve, the goat cheese enchiladas are topped with a generous portion of salsa verde, a drizzle of Mexican crema and a garnish of pico de gallo. The finished product’s decadent pools of soft cheese and bright bites of salsa add a nostalgic warmth, reminiscent of cozy nights around the family dinner table. Served alongside rice and beans, SOL’s goat cheese enchiladas reflect a modern take on the comforting hospitality of Mexican tradition.

Sharon Williams
Credit: Sharon Williams

Chef Salazar was drawn into the culinary world by the comradery of the kitchen. In many ways, he followed in the footsteps of his father, who worked as a cook. “He would take us into the kitchen after school. We would go in, and I saw how everybody worked as a team and the way they made the dishes,” Salazar recalls. He began his career cooking in a hospital kitchen, where a mentor encouraged Salazar to professionally train at culinary school. Salazar later attended and graduated from the prestigious culinary school Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena.

Salazar leads SOL Mexican Cocina with the same commitment to teamwork that he grew up with. His team is the most important to him, as well as to the success of the restaurant as a whole. He describes the kitchen “like an orchestra; everyone has to be in tune to make beautiful music.”

Amongst SOL’s goat cheese enchiladas, Chef Salazar’s curated menu features everything from slow-cooked short ribs to juicy Wagyu steaks and specialty taco selections served on housemade blue corn tortillas. But no trip to Baja is complete without a margarita or two! SOL’s bar is stocked with a collection of over 100 small-batch Mexican tequilas and mezcals. Each SOL location also hosts a signature single-barrel tequila unique to the restaurant. The Margarita del SOL, SOL’s ultimate margarita, is shaken tableside with Casa Dragones Barrel Blend Añejo, lime juice, agave nectar and Cointreau.

From the kitchen crew to the bartenders and hospitality staff, SOL Mexican Cocina embraces the welcoming and friendly personality of Baja California. Guests feel completely at ease in a resort-like atmosphere complete with a succulent-lined entryway and warm wooden accents. The spacious patio is made intimate by glowing fire pits at night, and the chic dining room grants views into the open-concept kitchen, where cooks practice Mexican techniques passed down through generations. SOL Mexican Cocina in Irvine is the chain’s flagship, being the largest of all locations, which now include Newport Beach, Playa Vista, Scottsdale and Denver.

Ingredients:
Mexican Cheese Blend
Goat Cheese
Corn Tortillas
Salsa Verde
Tomatillos
White Onion
Jalapeño
Garlic
Cloves
Cilantro
Queso Fresco
Cotija Cheese
Mexican Crema
Pico de Gallo
Cilantro
Rice
Beans

SOL Mexican Cocina
1910 Main St
Irvine, CA 92614
949.975.1220
@solcocina

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Lover of the beach, food and fitness, Emily enjoys exploring all sunny Southern California has to offer! She has a passion for sharing about her favorite local gems and began writing for Locale in 2022. On the weekends, find her creating recipes for her food blog or out in Laguna!

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