Spiced Chicken Breasts With Poblano And Bell Pepper Rajas Recipes

CREAMY POBLANO PEPPER STRIPS (RAJAS)

Steps:

• Char the poblano chiles directly over the gas flame on the stove or under the broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in a plastic bag and let steam for about 10 minutes.
• Add the oil to a heavy large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the corn and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Peel and seed the chiles. Cut the chiles into 1/4 to 1/2-inch strips (rajas) and add the strips to the onion and corn mixture and saute until the corn is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the heavy cream and Mexican crema and cook until bubbling, about for 8 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Season the rajas with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a serving dish and serve.

POBLANO AND PEPPER JACK-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH ANCHO CHILE CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the poblano and pepper jack-stuffed chicken breasts: Roast the poblano peppers over an open flame until completely charred, transfer to a plastic bag and seal for 10 minutes. Peel the charred skin, remove all the seeds and cut each pepper in half.
• Meanwhile, put chicken breasts on a cutting board and pound with a meat mallet to 1/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil, heat, then add the chicken and cook until the first side is golden-brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is golden-brown, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until just cooked through, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the ancho chile cream sauce: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook until reduced by 1/3. Add the Cajun spice and ancho chile powder and simmer for another minute or so. Keep warm.
• When the chicken is done, cut each piece into 2 equal halves. Lay one piece in the centers of 2 dinner plates and top each with 2 poblano halves, 1 piece of pepper jack, and another piece of chicken. Pour half of the Ancho Chile Cream Sauce over the tops and serve immediately.

BELL PEPPER RAJAS

Steps:

• Cut bell pepper strips crosswise in half. Arrange close together in ungreased broilerproof pie pan, 9x1 1/4 inches, or round pan, 9x2 inches. Sprinkle with cheese, olives and red pepper.
• Set oven control to broil. Broil peppers with tops 3 to 4 inches from heat about 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POBLANO CHILE STRIPS AND CREAM

Steps:

• Lay chiles on their sides on racks of gas burners, then turn flames on moderately high. Roast chiles, turning with tongs, until skins are blistered, 4 to 6 minutes. (Or broil chiles on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat, turning them, 8 to 10 minutes.) Transfer chiles immediately to a large sealable plastic bag and seal. Let steam 10 minutes, then peel or rub off skins and discard stems, seeds, and ribs. Rinse chiles and pat dry, then cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
• Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté chicken, skin or skinned sides down, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn chicken over and sauté 2 minutes more. Reduce heat to moderately low, then pour off excess fat and cook chicken, covered, until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, heat remaining tablespoon oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, then cook onion, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chiles and salt to taste and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add crème fraîche and cook, stirring, until just heated through (if using sour cream, do not let boil). Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle chicken with any pan juices and serve with sauce.

CHICKEN BREASTS CON RAJAS

Steps:

• Season chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Melt the butter and oil in a large skillet and saute the chicken lightly over moderate heat for 3 - 4 minutes on each side or until they are lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the pan. In the same pan saute the onion for 5 minutes until soft but not browned. Slice the chiles into long strips and add half of them to the pan with the onion. Add the salsa and cook over a low flame for 8 - 10 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
• Meanwhile, place the remaining sliced chiles in the blender with the milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend at low speed until smooth. Add the sour cream and blend again. Place half the chicken on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole. Cover them with half the onion-chile mixture and half the sour cream sauce. Repeat the layers.
• Mix the grated cheeses together and sprinkle on top of the chicken mixture. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 F oven for 30 minutes. Serve directly from the casserole.
• Note that the amount of chiles in the recipe makes a mild/medium spicy dish -- add or delete chiles to taste.

CHICKEN BREASTS IN POBLANO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Pound chicken breasts flat and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rub poblano with olive oil and place on a foil covered baking sheet and roast for 3 to 4 minutes, or until skin blackens.
• Remove from oven and rub off outer skin with a towel ( I use a damp paper towel).
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan.
• Add flour and stir over medium heat until thick.
• In a blender or food processor,pure'e half of the poblano together with the milk.
• Add to the flour mixture, mix well, and whisk in heavy cream.
• Cook over low heat until thick and bubbly, stirring often. Add salt to taste.
• Melt remaining butter in an ovenproof pan over medium-high heat and sear chicken breasts for 3 minutes on each side.
• Cut remaining poblano in strips.
• Cover chicken breasts with poblano strips,sauce and cheese.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese has melted.