Pollo Poblano Recipes

MOLE POBLANO

Steps:

• For the Lomo Saltado:
• Melt a little lard in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the halved onions and the 8 garlic cloves and cook until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and discard the onion. Reserve the garlic. In the infused lard, fry the roasted onions, roasted garlic, roasted tomatoes and tomatillos. Reserve.
• In another large skillet, add the sesame seeds, almonds, peanuts, raisins, prunes, plantains, coriander seeds, star anise and cinnamon, and toast until aromatic. Set aside.
• In a blender add the reserved garlic, the onion mixture, the nut mixture, croissants, tortilla pieces and the 1 1/2 quarts of chicken stock. Puree until a smooth mole forms. Transfer mole mixture to a large stock pot.
• Seed and devein the mulattos, anchos, pasillas and chipotles. Coat a large fry pan with lard. Add the chiles and saute until soft. Add the chiles to a blender and puree, then strain into the pot with the mole. Put the pot over low heat and add the chocolate and the sugar, stirring constantly. Stir in the remaining chicken stock, a little at a time, until the desired thickness of the mole is reached.

POLLO POBLANO

Steps:

• Lay chicken breasts on cutting board and slice them on an angle into 3 thinner pieces each. Heat oil in non-stick skillet. Sear poblano pepper on both sides until brown. Cool and peel off any of the cellophane-like tough skin you can remove (or you can oven roast on 400º if you prefer and only peel the scorched part of the skin off). Place pepper on cutting board and cut into thin slivers. Now, brown chicken pieces on both sides in same skillet over high heat. Preheat oven to 350º. Remove chicken from skillet and add onion. Saute until onion begins to brown. Add garlic, spices and slivered poblano pepper to pan. Remove from fire and add broth, cream and cheese. Stir in a tiny bit of your preferred thickener. Replace chicken into skillet and pop into 350º oven for about 30 minutes.

JUANA'S CHICKEN-STUFFED POBLANOS

Steps:

• Roast chiles:
• Lay 4 chiles on their sides on racks of gas burners and turn flames on high. (Or broil all 8 chiles on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat.) Roast chiles, turning with tongs, until skins are blistered but not blackened, 4 to 6 minutes (do not over roast because chiles may fall apart). Transfer immediately to a large plastic bag, then close to allow chiles to steam. Roast remaining chiles in same manner.
• Make filling:
• Cook onion in oil in a medium nonstick skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until onion begins to turn golden, about 4 minutes. Add water and cook, stirring occasionally, until water is evaporated and onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in chicken, salt, and pepper. Cool completely, then stir in cheese.
• Stuff and bake chiles:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Rub skins off chiles. Cut a slit lengthwise in each chile and carefully remove seeds (leave stem attached).
• Stuff filling into chiles through slits, keeping chiles intact. Place chiles in a 13- by 9-inch baking dish and cover tightly with foil.
• Bake chiles in middle of oven until cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.

POLLO CON MOLE POBLANO - CHICKEN IN MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a shallow layer of oil in a very large skillet, or use two skillets.
• Brown chicken in oil on both sides; add water to cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, make the sauce by placing all remaining ingredients (except bay leaf) in a blender and processing until smooth.
• When chicken is done, drain broth and reserve.
• Add 1 to 1 1/2 cup of broth to sauce.
• Blend, pour over chicken in skillet, add bay leaf, and cook on low heat for 35 more minutes.

POBLANO CHICKEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet. Mix in the poblano peppers, jalapeno peppers, and garlic. Squeeze the juice from one lime half over the chicken, and place the lime peel and pulp into the skillet. Cover, and simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken juices run clear. Remove from heat, cool, and cut chicken into cubes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt 1/4 cup butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Gradually stir in the flour and half-and-half. Mix in the cilantro, mushrooms, sour cream, and juice of remaining lime half. Cook and stir 10 minutes, until mushrooms are tender.
• Line the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with 6 tortillas. Arrange 1/2 the chicken and pepper mixture over the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese, and cover with remaining tortillas. Layer with remaining chicken and pepper mixture, and pour the cilantro sauce evenly over the casserole. Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

POBLANO AND ONION SAUTE

Steps:

• Roast chiles directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner (or under the broiler), turning with tongs, until blackened all over. Transfer chiles to a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap (or place in a large resealable plastic bag). Let steam until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes, then peel chiles. Remove stems, ribs, and seeds; cut each chile lengthwise into strips and place in a nonreactive bowl.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook until softened and translucent, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Stir in chiles and season with salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion and chiles are tender, about 7 minutes.

CHICKEN WITH POBLANO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast chile over a gas burner or under the broiler, until charred all over. Wrap in paper towel; steam 5 minutes. Rub off skin; remove seeds and ribs. Chop coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic; cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chile and cream.
• Puree in blender; add water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat remaining tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden and juices run clear, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with sauce.