SippitySup

Christmas Migas for Mija?

migas

Migas means “crumbs” in Spanish. Migas is also the name of at least three dishes I can think of. One is a Mexican soup, one is a traditional Portuguese dish, and the last is a chiliquiles-like Mexican-style plate of scrambled eggs that is most associated with Austin, TX. So when I saw the word migas in the newspaper this morning, I paid attention. Which migas did they mean?

I like the Saturday section of the LA Times for selfish reasons. I love my blog, but it can be a real chore deciding on an editorial direction day after day (after day). Sometimes I need a creative kick in the ass. I’m not bragging, but it’s a small target. So the kick needs to be well-intended. The LA Times has pretty good aim. The migas they meant is the eggs and it’s an “old favorite hangover breakfast” from when columnist Russ Parsons lived in Texas. New Mex Migas.

You see, I’m still savoring my trip to Baja’s wine country. One of the highlights was breakfast at Doña Esthela’s. Which I guess is what you’d call a restaurant, but eating at Doña Esthela’s feels more like eating at Doña Esthela’s house. She serves up big plates of eggs at breakfast. Rancheros, Chiliquiles or even Migas. Call these breakfasts what you like– I’ll just call them muy bueno. Eating in Valle de Guadalupe is everything Mexico should be (to me). But I can’t get there as often as I’d like, so New Mex Migas is something I need to accomplish (in fact master) in a big way.

So do you.

The inspiration for this post comes from Russ Parsons’s Christmas breakfast tradition and (according to him) it “has to follow a certain script”.

I worked in show biz a long time. I can follow a script.

The script I’m following seems to have been written by Russ Parsons’s daughter. Evidently she believes that they always have chilaquiles for Christmas breakfast. Don’t argue with children when it comes to the holidays. My mother always made Creamed Eggs for Easter breakfast from the colossally colored œufs we hid in the yard. So I know where from Parsons’s daughter speaks. These things– these traditions are important. Even if they’re not exactly true.

The trouble with the story is Parsons didn’t really remember Christmas breakfast quite the same way as his daughter. I won’t go into all the details of how a child’s recollection of Christmas chiliquiles became the migas of Parsons’s Texas days, that’s his story. I suggest you read it. But I will say when it comes to holiday traditions I love every one of them. Even other people’s. GREG

migas

New Mex Migas 

Print This Recipe Total time Yield 4–6Source The Los Angeles Times California CookbookPublished

*You may substitute salsa verde for the freshly roasted green chiles

New Mex Migas

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup chopped green onion (green parts only)
  • ¼ cup chopped roasted and peeled green chile (or more to taste)*
  • 8 large eggs (beaten until smooth)
  • salt (to taste)
  • 4 ounce tortilla chips (about 2 3/4 cups) preferably stale
  • 2 cup grated cotija cheese (divided)
  • ½ cup cooked black beans
  • ¼ cup Mexican sour cream (plus more to taste)
  • 1¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro

Directions

Melt the butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the green onions and cook until they wilt slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the green chile and cook until fragrant, another minute or two.

Add the beaten eggs and let sit until they just begin to set, about 1 minute. Salt lightly, sprinkle the tortilla chips over top of the eggs and stir, folding the unset egg over the chips. Cook quickly (to keep the chips from softening), stirring until the eggs are almost set, then stir in half of the cotija cheese.

When the eggs are set to your taste, an additional 2 to 3 minutes, divide the mixture evenly among 4 to 6 heated plates, or serve it family style on a large platter. Spoon over the black beans, then the remaining cheese, sour cream and the cilantro. Serve immediately.