Air Fryer Crispy Chili Rellenos Recipes

REAL CHILES RELLENOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and place the peppers onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 8 to 10 minutes per side. When the peppers are about 80 percent blackened, place them a plastic bag, seal, and allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Once cool, remove the skins and discard. Cut a slit lengthwise into the side of each pepper, and remove seeds and veins. To reduce spiciness, rinse out any remaining seeds with water. Pat the peppers dry with paper towels.
• Mix together the shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar cheese in a bowl until thoroughly blended. Divide the cheese into 4 portions, and squeeze each portion lightly in your hands to make a cone shape. Insert a cone into the slit in each pepper, and pin the openings closed with toothpicks. Dredge each pepper in flour, dust off the excess, and place on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper or waxed paper. Place the peppers in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
• To make sauce, blend the stewed tomatoes in a blender until pureed, and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cook and stir for about 30 seconds, and pour in the pureed tomatoes, chicken broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, black pepper, hot pepper sauce, and cinnamon. Reduce to medium-low, and simmer the sauce until reduced by half and thickened, about 20 minutes, stirring often.
• Preheat an oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C), and warm a platter in the oven.
• To make batter and finish the chiles rellenos, mix 1/3 cup flour with salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until the whites form stiff peaks. Lightly mix the egg yolk and flour-salt mixture into the egg whites to make a fluffy batter. Remove peppers from freezer and coat them in flour again; shake off excess flour, and dip each pepper into the egg batter, using a spoon to gently but completely coat each pepper with batter.
• Heat frying oil in a heavy cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Gently lay the coated peppers into the hot oil, and fry on both sides until the batter is golden brown and the cheese filling is hot, about 5 minutes per side. Remove peppers to warmed platter while you finish frying. To serve, ladle a generous spoonful of sauce onto plate, and place pepper on sauce. Serve peppers hot with a dollop of sour cream.

AIR FRYER CHILE RELLENOS

Steps:

• For the peppers: Place peppers in the air fryer basket. Set air fryer to 400°F for 10 minutes, turning peppers halfway through cook time. Remove peppers from air fryer (skins should be charred) and place in a resealable plastic bag to steam for 5 minutes. Peel skin and discard.
• In a medium bowl combine corn, scallion, cilantro, salt, black pepper, and grated cheese; set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion for 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, chile powder, oregano, and cumin, and salt. Cook and stir 1 minute. Whisk in chicken stock, and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Cut a slit down the center of each poblano pepper, starting at the stem and continuing to the tip. Remove the seeds, being careful not to tear the chile.
• Carefully stuff each chile with a layer of half of the corn and cheese mixture, and 1 tablespoon of the crema.
• Place stuffed peppers in 6-inch heat-proof pan and place the pan in the air fryer basket. Set air fryer to 400°F for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted
• Serve with red chile sauce.*

AIR FRYER CHILE RELLENO STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Depending on the thickness of the chicken breast you'll want to butterfly it. This means cutting it horizontally, but not all the way through. This allows you to pound the meat for even thickness.
• Pound out the chicken breast to about 1/4 inch thick
• Sprinkle on 1/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper and cumin
• Lay the Anaheim Pepper on to the chicken breast
• In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese and grated cheddar cheese
• Spread half the cream cheese mixture over the Anaheim pepper layer
• Roll the chicken breast over the pepper and cheese.
• Bind the chicken roll with toothpicks
• Beat the egg
• Mix together the the Panko, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and place on a flat dish
• Carefully dip the stuffed chicken breast into the egg and then Roll into the panko mixture. Press lightly to get the panko to stick to the chicken
• Lightly spray the chicken breast with olive oil or butter spray
• Place the stuffed chicken breast into the Air Fryer. NOTE: Always spray the bottom of the air fryer with cooking spray. Cook the chicken in the Air Fryer for 12 minutes at 400 degrees
• Flip the chicken. Spray the top of the chicken breast with olive oil or butter spray and cook for an additional 8 minutes in the Air Fryer for 400 degrees.
• Check the chicken to make sure the internal temperature is over 165 degrees. The outside should also be browned and crunchy. Enjoy.

CHILE RELLENO BITES

Steps:

• Start by prepping your ingredients. See note for wonton wrappers. Cut brick of cheese into four long strips and then again into one inch bricks. Whisk egg whites and water in a small bowl. Use a cutting board or plate for your work space. Use two medium or one large airtight plastic container for freezing/storing. Cut pieces of wax paper to fit in between layers of chile rellenos to prevent sticking. Your fingers will be all gross, so it is best to prepare these items ahead of time.
• You are now ready to start the rolling! I suggest you find something interesting on the tube or radio prior to getting your fingers all mucky. Start by placing one wrapper on your work surface to look like a diamond. Using your fingers, lightly baste egg white mixture over the entire surface. Place one cheese brick in the bottom center. Fold up bottom edge and roll once. Fold in sides to look like an open envelope. Fold over the rest of the way to make a nice, neat little package. Place in your container.
• Continue with remaining cheese and wonton wrappers. Avoid having any of the rellenos touch, as they will freeze together and make it difficult to fry later. You might end up with an uneven number. Save the cheese for use in another dish and/or fry the wonton wrappers to make crispy noodles (the ones they give you as an appetizer in Chinese food restaurants).
• Cover your container and place in the freezer for a minimum of one hour. I've kept these in the freezer in an airtight container for two months or more.
• When you are ready to prepare your rellenos, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a heavy medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Different ranges take varying amounts of time to heat. If you sprinkle a dab of water into the hot oil and it sizzles and spits- it is ready. (Be careful doing this...)
• Using a fry spoon (see picture), add 5-8 (depending on pan size) chile rellenos to hot oil. Flipping once or twice, cook rellenos until they are golden brown and crispy. The way I know they are cooked is when the first relleno starts to leak cheese. The sound of the oil will change dramatically when this happens. Then I know it is time to remove them all before they are void of any cheese. This takes approximately 3-4 minutes and will decrease in time as you fry because your oil will get progressively hotter.
• Remove rellenos with your fry spoon to a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet. If you are making a large batch, heat your oven to the lowest possible temperature to keep warm while frying, but not too hot to have a cheese explosion. Again, the goal is to keep the cheese inside the wrapper!
• Serve immediately with salsa, sour cream or guacamole. Enjoy your Chile Relleno Bites!
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

CHILES RELLENOS

Steps:

• To prepare the chiles:
• Position a rack on the upper most shelf of the broiler element and preheat. Put the chiles on a foil-lined broiler pan and broil, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chiles to a bowl, cover, and cool for 10 minutes.
• Carefully rub the charred skin off the chiles. Using a small knife, make a lengthwise slit along the side of each chile to form a pocket. Carefully cut out and discard the seeds.
• Cut the cheese into 6 (1/4-inch-thick) slabs, about 3/4 the length of each chile (your chiles probably vary in length, so tailor the cheese to the chiles). Slip the cheese pieces into the pocket of each chile so they're 2/3 full. (If the cheese protrudes from the chiles, just cut a little off.) "Sew" each chile shut with a wooden skewer or long toothpick. (The skewers should be longer than the chiles, so they can be easily pulled out after frying.)
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, cumin, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the beer to a make a smooth batter.
• In a large, wide, heavy-bottomed pot, pour in the oil to a depth of about 3 inches. Heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 365 degrees F.
• Put the flour for dredging on a plate. Working in 2 batches, dredge the chiles in the flour (the dampness of the chiles creates a light paste with the flour that seals over any tears), dip in the batter, and carefully add to the oil. Fry, turning the chiles once, until golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer the chiles rellenos to a dry paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Sprinkle with salt, to taste. Gently pull out and discard the skewers.
• Heat the sauce. Spoon some of the sauce on a plate and set 1 chile relleno on top. Repeat with the remaining sauce and chiles. Serve.
• In a blender, combine all the ingredients and puree until smooth.
• Transfer the tomato puree to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until slightly thick, about 10 minutes.
• Yield: about 3 cups

EASY CHILE RELLENO EGG ROLLS

Steps:

• Lay a wrapper on a work surface diagonally so it resembles a diamond. Place a slice of green chile horizontally across the wrapper, 1 inch above the bottom point. Place a strip of Monterey Jack cheese on top of the chile.
• Fill a small bowl with water. Dip an index finger into the water and moisten the edges of the wrapper. Roll the wrapper up and over the chile and cheese, starting from the point closest to you. Bring in both sides, making sure to press firmly to seal the filling. Roll away from you and to enclose the yumminess inside. Repeat with remaining wrappers, chiles, and Monterey Jack cheese.
• Heat approximately 1/2 inch of oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Carefully lay a few egg rolls into the hot oil. Fry, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Repeat with remaining egg rolls.
• Transfer fried egg rolls to a plate lined with paper towels and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

AUTHENTIC CHILE RELLENOS

Steps:

• Place the chiles directly on the burner of a gas stove until mostly blackened on each side.
• Put the cooked chiles in a plastic vegetable grocery bag for 30 minutes. Toss them around a bit so that the bag doesn't get a hole in it from the heat.
• Peel the blackened skin from the chiles with your fingers. It's not important to get every bit of skin off.
• Slice each chili on one side from stem to bottom.
• Remove most of the seeds and membranes. (If you like them really hot, omit this step).
• Cut the cheese into 1/2 wide slices and as long as the chiles.
• Stuff the cheese into each chile.
• Roll in flour.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff and gently fold in the yolks. (If doubling the recipe make two batches of stiffened egg as the eggs will fall quickly).
• Drop chiles into egg batter and fluff it around them.
• Slide them into1 1/2" deep hot oil, one or two at a time until golden brown and turn to brown the other side.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Serve immediately or bake in oven for 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. If you have a convection oven, use it the feature as it makes them really crispy on the outside.
• Sauce: Combine all ingedients in a saucepan and let simmer until the rellenos are done. Serve on the side or cover the rellenos with it at serving.

CHEESE-STUFFED CHILE RELLENOS EGG ROLLS

Steps:

• Drain green chiles.
• Sprinkle cornstarch on sheet pan.
• Open up chile and place on egg roll wrapper with corner facing you.
• Place cheese stick on chile and roll up, tucking in corners and moistening edges to seal.
• Toss in cornstarch, dusting liberally.
• (Can be made up to this point a day ahead. Leave in cornstarch. Cover and refrigerate.) Shake off excess cornstarch and deep fry in 350 oil to cover until lightly golden and cheese just starts to ooze out.
• Drain on paper towels and keep warm in 250 oven.
• Serve as a side dish or appetizer with your favorite Mexican meal.
• Add your favorite condi- ments/sauces.

AIR FRYER CHILI-GARLIC TOFU WITH GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Drain the tofu, wrap each block in several layers of paper towel and set on a large plate. Place a heavy pan on top (cast-iron works great for this) to press excess liquid from the tofu; allow to rest for 15 minutes.
• Slice each tofu block into six 1/2-inch-thick slices. Drain the large plate of any excess liquid, wipe dry and place the tofu slices back on the plate. Put 1 tablespoon of the oil in a small bowl and use a pastry brush to coat both sides of the slices with the oil. Season both sides of the slices with 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
• Lay the tofu slices flat in the basket of the air fryer and cook, flipping halfway through, until lightly golden and crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F again.
• Toss the green beans in a large bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Cook the beans, tossing halfway through, until tender and blistered, about 10 minutes.
• While the beans cook, combine the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, mirin, brown sugar, chili-garlic paste, cornstarch, garlic and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan and stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly reduced, thickened and shiny, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Transfer the beans to a large serving plate and shingle the tofu slices on top. Drizzle the sauce over the tofu and beans and garnish with the scallions.