Baked Baja Beef Chimichangas

This is an authentic 40 year-old recipe, and the filling will not taste the same as fast food style chimichangas. The only thing Americanized here is that the chimichangas are baked instead of fried. Caution: If you use leanest ground beef, the filling will seem dry. Serve lots of lettuce, tomatoes and other garnishes listed below with each chimichanga - they are important to this dish's all around flavors and textures.

• Ready In: 33 mins
• Serves: 5-6

Ingredients

• 10 -12  flour tortillas
• 6  tablespoons  melted butter
• 2  lbs lean ground beef
• 1⁄4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
• 2  garlic cloves, crushed
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)

• Garnishes

•  shredded lettuce
•  chopped tomato
•  grated cheese
•  sour cream
•  salsa

Directions

1. Wrap tortillas in foil and warm in a 300* oven while making the filling.
2. Brown ground beef and drain.
3. Mix in vinegar and seasonings to the drained meat, but do not cook the mixture further.
4. Remove tortillas from oven and increase oven temperature to 500*.
5. Brush each side of tortilla with melted butter.
6. Spoon about 1/4 cup ground beef filling onto center of each buttered tortilla.
7. Fold in sides, then roll up tortilla from the bottom.
8. Place seam-side down on a foil-lined and rimmed baking sheet.
9. Bake at 500* for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown.
10. Serve on a large bed of shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes.
11. Top with sour cream, shredded cheese, and salsa.