Today’s Google Doodle: Celebrating Chilaquiles, a Breakfast Favorite

Today’s Google Doodle: Celebrating Chilaquiles, a Breakfast Favorite

Today’s Google Doodle is a treat for food enthusiasts, celebrating one of my all-time favorite breakfast dishes: chilaquiles. Coincidentally, I made chilaquiles for myself twice this week!

The artistic Doodle was created by Oakland-based guest artist Chava Oropesa, as announced by Google.

Chilaquiles is a delightful and versatile dish. At its simplest, it consists of fried tortilla strips or chips, enchilada sauce, cheese, and a couple of fried eggs. To prepare, simply cover the chips with enchilada sauce and cheese, heat them up, top with eggs, and enjoy. It’s easy, quick, and delicious!

Like many Mexican dishes, chilaquiles vary by region across Mexico. You can enhance them with avocado, guacamole, salsa, cotija cheese, melted queso, jalapeños, or any other toppings you desire, including slow-cooked pork or chicken. For a creative twist, you could even make a green chile gravy and create a hybrid biscuits and gravy chilaquiles, perhaps with corn muffins instead.

If you haven’t tried chilaquiles yet, this is a perfect opportunity. You can choose between red or green enchilada sauce. Store-bought sauce works fine, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make it from scratch. Just be careful not to overcook the eggs—runny yolks are ideal. Another great idea is to make your own tortillas. Use some for tacos at dinner, then fry the leftovers for breakfast the next day.

Chilaquiles date back to ancient Aztec times and were introduced to American cuisine by Encarnación Pinedo in her 1898 cookbook, “The Spanish Cook.” I’ve enjoyed chilaquiles in both Mexico and the US, but I mostly make them at home.

While hash browns with runny eggs and homemade biscuits and gravy are also strong contenders for the best breakfast food, if I had to choose just one, it would be chilaquiles. Though breakfast tacos and huckleberry pancakes are also hard to beat!