Ancho Chile Relleno Recipes

CHILES RELLENOS

Steps:

• Char the chiles.
• Turn a gas burner on high. Char the chiles on the burner grate, turning with tongs (Marcela is a pro and uses her hands!), until blackened all over. Or char the chiles under the broiler.
• Let them soften.
• Transfer the charred chiles to a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag and close. Let stand 10 minutes. The chiles will steam in the bag, making them soft and easy to peel.
• Remove the skin.
• Gently rub the chiles with paper towels to remove as much skin as possible. It's okay if a few flecks remain-they'll add flavor, so don't rinse them off.
• Open the chiles.
• Using a paring knife, make a slit across the top of a chile just below the stem, leaving the stem intact. Starting from the middle of the slit, slice lengthwise down to the tip of the pepper (cut through only one layer). Open the chile like a book and pull out the seeds and inner membranes. You may need to use a paring knife to loosen the top of the seedpod. Repeat with the remaining chiles.
• Prepare the sauce.
• Puree the tomatoes, onion and garlic in a blender until smooth. Warm the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the tomato puree and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally; the sauce will be broth-y. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• Make the filling.
• Place the cheese in a bowl, then add the oregano, crumbling and rubbing it with your fingers to release its flavor. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Stuff the chiles.
• Fill each chile with about 1/4 cup cheese mixture. Fold in the sides to cover the filling, then thread 2 toothpicks across the seam to form an X. You will probably need to make a second toothpick X to secure each chile so the filling doesn't leak out when you fry.
• Mix the batter.
• Beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Add the egg yolk and beat 3 more minutes.
• Batter and fry.
• Heat about 1 inch vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Dredge: Pour flour into a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. One at a time, coat the stuffed chiles with the flour.
• Batter: Holding each chile by the stem, lower it into the egg batter to cover completely. Let any excess batter drip off.
• Fry: Add the chiles to the hot oil, 1 or 2 at a time; fry, flipping once with tongs, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
• Eat!
• Place a fried chile on each plate and pour the warm sauce over it. Serve immediately.

CHILE RELLENO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Roast the poblanos over an open flame or under the broiler until charred all over, turning as necessary, about 8 minutes. Put in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to steam and loosen the skin, about 5 minutes. When cooled, remove the stems and run under cold water to peel off the blackened outer skin and remove the seeds.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put 1 piece Colby Jack cheese in the center of each pepper. Pour half of enchilada sauce into an 8-inch square baking dish. Put half of the cheese-filled peppers on top of the enchilada sauce. Repeat with the remaining sauce and peppers.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl until very frothy. Whisk in the Cheddar, milk, flour and baking powder. Gently pour the mixture over the peppers and sauce in the baking dish.
• Bake until the casserole is set in the center and golden brown all over, about 1 hour. Let rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CHILI 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. Place peppers onto the prepared baking sheet, and cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, about 10 minutes. Turn the peppers often to blacken all sides. Place the blackened peppers into a bowl, and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 15 minutes.
• Rinse cooled peppers under cold water to peel off the skins, and cut a slit along the long side of each pepper to remove the seeds and core. Rinse the peppers inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Stuff the peppers with strips of the cheese.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl with the baking powder. In a second metal bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until the whites form stiff peaks. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture. Place flour into a shallow bowl.
• Heat the vegetable shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Roll each stuffed pepper in flour, tap off excess flour, and dip the peppers into the egg mixture to coat both sides. Gently lay the coated peppers into the hot shortening. Fry peppers until lightly golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes per side.

PORK CHOPS WITH CHILES RELLENOS AND ANCHO SAUCE

Steps:

• Char chiles over gas flame or in broiler until blackened all over. Place chiles in bowl; cover tightly with plastic wrap and let steam 15 minutes. Peel, leaving stem intact (do not tear flesh of chiles). Using small sharp knife, cut 1 long slit down side of each chile; carefully remove seeds. Toast cumin seeds in small skillet over medium-high heat until slightly darkened and aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes. Set chiles and cumin aside.
• Line rimless baking sheet with foil. Cook potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain. Transfer potatoes to medium bowl; cool. Add cheese, chopped oregano, and toasted cumin; stir to distribute evenly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Carefully fill chiles with potato mixture, about 1/3 to 1/2 cup filling for each. Working with 1 chile at a time, hold in palm and squeeze gently to compress lightly. Place stuffed chiles on prepared sheet.
• Combine broth, juice, 2 teaspoons chile powder, and next 4 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until slightly thickened and reduced to 2/3 cup, 8 to 9 minutes. DO AHEAD: Chiles and sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill separately. Let chiles return to room temperature before continuing.
• Mix 3 teaspoons chile powder and 1 tablespoon coarse salt in small bowl. Sprinkle mixture over pork chops; let stand at room temperature up to 2 hours.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Brush pork with oil. Place pork chops on 1 side of grill. Transfer chiles on foil to opposite side of grill. Grill pork chops until just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to plate and let rest 10 minutes. Grill chiles until cheese melts, about 15 minutes.
• Rewarm sauce. Place 1 pork chop and 1 chile on each plate. Drizzle sauce over, sprinkle with oregano leaves, and serve.
• Often called pasillas; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores, farmers' markets, and Latin markets.
• ** Available in the spice section of many supermarkets and at Latin markets.
• *** Available in tubes at some supermarkets and at Italian markets.

CHILES ANCHO RELLENOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slit an opening in each ancho from stem to tip, being careful not to tear the skin; carefully remove seeds and ribs, and discard.
• Combine the water, vinegar, piloncillo, cinnamon, and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add anchos; cover, and let stand 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
• Spoon filling into each chile; arrange in a baking dish. Bake chiles until heated through, about 15 minutes. Bring crema and onion to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 8 minutes. Pass through a fine sieve into a bowl; stir in cilantro. Pour sauce over anchos, and serve.

ANCHO CHILE RELLENO

Steps:

• Purée tomatoes, onion, and garlic with water and 3/4 tsp salt in a blender until smooth. Strain through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Add tomato mixture (it will spatter) and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly and a pool of oil forms around bubbles, about 20 minutes. Stir in enough of boiling-hot water to reach the consistency of a thin broth. Season with salt. Keep warm over low heat.
• While sauce simmers, slit 1 side of each chile lengthwise and remove seeds and veins, keeping chiles intact. Fill each chile first with about 3 Tbsp packed Oaxaca cheese and then with about 2 Tbsp queso añejo and close chiles around filling as well as possible.
• Put flour in a wide bowl and carefully dredge chiles in flour (make sure filling doesn't fall out), gently knocking off excess, and reserve on a plate.
• Heat remaining cup oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat until it shimmers.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt using an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Beat yolks briefly to loosen, then fold into whites with a rubber spatula gently but thoroughly.
• Working in batches of 3, dip floured chiles, one by one, in egg batter to coat, transferring to skillet. Fry chiles, turning once with a slotted spoon, until batter is golden all over, about 1 minute. Transfer chiles as fried to warm tomato broth, turning to coat, then let stand 2 minutes so they absorb some of broth. Serve chiles with broth.
• Note: Look for chiles that are soft and pliable enough not to need soaking.
• Chiles can be stuffed and coated with flour 1 day ahead and chilled.
• Tomato broth can be made 1 day ahead and chilled (covered once cool). Bring to a bare simmer before frying chiles.

CHILES ANCHOS RELLENOS DE QUESO (CHEESE-FILLED ANCHO CHILES)

Steps:

• Make the caldillo con crema:
• In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatoes, onion, and garlic and blend until smooth. For a smooth sauce, push through a fine-mesh strainer if needed.
• In a large skillet, over moderate heat, melt the butter. Add the tomato caldillo mixture and fry, stirring occasionally, until it changes color and reduces slightly.
• Just before serving, gently warm the crema Mexicana in a saucepan, then whisk in the tomato caldillo mixture, bring to a simmer, and season to taste with salt.
• Make the chile rellenos:
• In a medium saucepan, bring 1 quart of water to a boil, along with the piloncillo, thyme, oregano, and bay leaf.
• Heat a comal or cast-iron skillet over low heat and dry-roast the chiles until just tender. Transfer to the boiling water, then turn off the heat and let the chiles soak for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the chiles from the water and using a small, sharp knife, make a lengthwise slit down one side of each. Carefully remove the seeds and, if possible, the skin. (The stem of the chile should remain attached, so if the skin is difficult to peel, leave it on.) Season the insides of the chiles with salt, then stuff with the cheese, dividing it equally.
• In a large sauté pan, over moderately low heat, melt the butter. Add the chiles and cook, flipping gently, to melt the cheese.
• Spoon the caldillo con crema onto a platter or individual plates, top with the chiles, and serve immediately.

CHICKEN CHILE RELLENOS

Steps:

• Place the oil in a braising pan and heat over a piping hot grill. When the oil begins to sizzle, add the chicken. Cover with water, making sure the chicken remains submerged throughout the cooking process.
• Generously sprinkle with salt and cumin. Lower the heat to medium-high, so the water continues to simmer. Move the braising pan to the grill and continue cooking for 30-45 minutes over a medium grill,
• replenishing water in the pan as needed.
• The chicken is done when it is firm and white on the outside, and when you slice into it, there is no pink.
• to be seen. Remove the braising pan from grill and carefully drain the broth and discard. Let the chicken cool completely. Remove the chicken skin and bones and discard before shredding the meat. Shred the chicken and reserve.
• Reata Creme Fraiche:.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl, whisking until the mixture has a consistency of salad dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Reata Roasted Poblano Peppers:.
• Rub the oil liberally over the Poblano peppers. Roast the peppers directly on the grill grate until they.
• are charred, turning frequently to ensure charring on all sides. Place the warm roasted peppers in a
• large bowl and tightly cover with plastic wrap for about 15 minutes, until they begin to 'sweat'.
• Peel off the first layer of skin from each pepper. Slit the peppers lengthwise, rinse under cold water to remove the seeds and reserve.
• Stuffing the Rellanos:.
• Preheat the oven to 350º. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and thoroughly mix. In another large bowl, add the diced tomatoes and shredded chicken, and mix. Add the Ancho Chili Sauce.
• to the chicken and tomatoes and mix until well combined. Carefully fill each pepper with about 1 cup of the chicken-tomato-chili mixture.
• Top each pepper with 1/2 cup of the blended cheeses. Place each stuffed pepper, cheese-side up, in a large baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
• Serve 2 per person, drizzled with 1-2 tablespoons of Creme Fraiche and a generous side guacamole.