Stuffed Chiles With Cheese Recipes

GRILLED CHEESE-STUFFED CHILE TACOS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for high heat. Halve the Cubanelle peppers lengthwise, trim the tops and remove the seeds. Drizzle the peppers, tomatoes and onion rounds with oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place the vegetables on the hot grill, cut-side down, and cook 6 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway through, to get some charred areas and dark grill marks. Set aside the grilled pepper halves.
• Put the grilled tomatoes and onion, garlic, chipotles, cilantro, juice of 1 lime and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a food processor, and pulse about 20 times for a chunky salsa.
• Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits and scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a medium bowl. Add the remaining lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mash the avocado lightly with a fork so that some large pieces remain.
• Stuff about 2 tablespoons of the Monterey Jack into each pepper half. Place a piece of aluminum foil, large enough to hold all the peppers, on the grill. Arrange the stuffed pepper halves on the foil. Cover the grill to melt the cheese, about 4 minutes.
• Heat the tortillas on the grill for about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side for light grill marks. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil to keep them warm and soft.
• To assemble a taco, spread some of the avocado on a tortilla. Top with a stuffed pepper half, followed by a spoonful of salsa, a dollop of the sour cream and some torn cilantro leaves.

CHILES RELLENOS (MEXICAN-STYLE CHEESE-STUFFED CHILIES) RECIPE

Steps:

• For the Salsa Ranchera and Chilies: Adjust rack to 4 inches below broiler and preheat broiler to high. Place Poblanos, tomatoes, onion, serranos, and garlic on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil until chilies are blackened on top, about 5 minutes. Flip chilies to expose another un-blackened surface and continue broiling for another 5 minutes. Turn chilies one more time, flip tomatoes, and continue broiling until chilies are blackened all over, a few minutes longer.
• Transfer tomatoes, onion, garlic, serranos, stock, and cilantro to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Wrap Poblanos with foil from baking sheet and set them aside to steam. Process salsa until smooth but still a little chunky.
• Heat 1 tablespoon (15ml) lard or oil in a medium saucepan until just starting to smoke. Immediately pour all of the salsa into pan (it will bubble very violently). Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by about 1/2 cup. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.

STUFFED POBLANO CHILES ("CHILES RELLENOS")

Steps:

• Sauce: Put the tomatoes, garlic and onion in a blender. Blend until smooth. In a medium saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Chile rellenos: Mix the cheese and oregano in a small bowl. Cut a slit through 1 side of the charred chiles and fill each chile with 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture. Close with toothpicks to hold the filling in place. In a medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. Add the egg yolk and continue to beat for about 1 minute.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.) Dredge the filled chiles in flour until fully covered. Shake off any excess flour, then dip the chiles into the egg mixture, until well coated. Fry until golden brown and drain on paper towels.
• Arrange the chiles on a serving platter, spoon the sauce on top and serve.

CHILES RELLENOS (STUFFED PEPPERS)

Steps:

• Place whole peppers over an open flame (gas burner) or under the broiler. Roast, turning frequently until evenly black and blistered. Remove from heat, place in a plastic bag, and let them sweat for a while. This will allow the skins to peel of easily.
• While the peppers are sweating, place the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring to crumble, until evenly browned. When beef is fully cooked, add the onion, garlic and tomato, and cook for a few more minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove the peppers from the bag, and peel off the burnt skin. You may wish to wear protective gloves. Run peppers under cool running water to rinse away any burnt pieces. Make a small vertical slit in the side of the peppers, and remove the seeds and veins. Stuff each pepper halfway with the ground beef mixture, then fill the rest of the way with shredded cheese. Close the slits, and secure with toothpicks.
• Whip egg whites in a large glass or metal bowl until thick and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, and whip for a minute to blend in.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Coat the stuffed peppers with a light dusting of flour, then dip them in the egg so they are fully covered. Carefully place in the hot oil, and fry on both sides until golden. Drain on paper towels, then serve on a large platter.

BACON, CHILE AND CREAM CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with cooking parchment paper.
• In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Using slotted spoon, transfer to medium bowl. In same skillet, add onion and poblano chile; cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl with bacon. Let stand 3 minutes. Add cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper; stir to combine.
• Cut pocket in each chicken breast by making a horizontal slit along thin long edge, being careful to not cut through to opposite side. Stuff each pocket with a quarter of the cream cheese filling (generous 1/4 cup). Press edges of chicken together to seal.
• Pour melted butter into shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, place bread crumbs. Season stuffed chicken breasts with remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Dip chicken into melted butter to coat both sides, then dip into bread crumbs to coat completely. Transfer to pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center (at least 165°F).

CHILES EN NOGADA (STUFFED POBLANO CHILE PEPPERS)

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large pot with the halved onion, two carrots, one stalk celery, and 1 clove garlic, and cover with water. Boil until done. Slice meat into bite-sized pieces.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until soft, then add chicken, raisins, brown sugar, 4 ounces walnuts, pepper and bay leaves. Mix together and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, then stir in vinegar, cilantro and tomato paste; reduce heat to low and let all simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Cut a slit in each chile pepper along one side, lengthwise, so that they can be reconstructed after they are stuffed. Stuff each chile pepper with cooled chicken mixture and place in preheated oven to keep warm.
• To Make Sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream cheese, goat cheese, sour cream, 8 ounces walnuts, nutmeg and granulated sugar. Heat, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes. When blended together, pour sauce over warm chile peppers and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

CHEESE-STUFFED POBLANOS WITH TOMATO SAUCE (CHILES RELLENOS DE QUESO)

Steps:

• Roast chiles:
• Roast chiles on their sides on racks of gas burners (1 or 2 per burner) over medium-high heat, turning with tongs, until skins are blistered and slightly charred, 4 to 6 minutes. (Or broil on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat.) Immediately transfer to a large bowl and cover, then let stand 20 minutes.
• Make tomato sauce while chiles stand:
• Purée all sauce ingredients except oil with 11/4 teaspoons salt in a blender until smooth, then strain through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids, then discarding them.
• Heat oil in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet or heatproof casserole (preferably one that can go to the table) over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Carefully pour in sauce and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes (sauce should still be thin). Season with salt.
• Stuff and fry chiles:
• Carefully rub off skins from chiles, leaving stems attached. Cut a slit lengthwise in each chile with kitchen shears, then carefully cut out seedpod (including attached ribs) without tearing chile (hotter chiles smell stronger when cut). Wipe chiles clean with a paper towel if necessary.
• Stuff chiles with cheese and enclose filling by overlapping slit slightly if possible, then transfer to a plate. (Use a toothpick to mark any hotter chiles if desired.)
• Heat 1/2 inch oil in another 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it registers 360°F on thermometer.
• While oil heats, beat egg whites with 1/8 teaspoon salt using an electric mixer until they just hold stiff peaks. Whisk yolks with 1/8 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, then gently fold in whites.
• Put flour in a fine-mesh sieve and dust chiles, turning them to lightly coat all sides.
• When oil is ready, dip chiles, 1 at a time (hold chile by stem), in egg coating, spooning it over chile to cover completely, then fry, turning once, until golden on all sides (lap oil over any lighter areas), 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer chiles with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Meanwhile, reheat sauce over low heat. Lay chiles in sauce to serve.

POTATO- AND CHEESE-STUFFED CHILES RELLENOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Cut slit in end of each chile to allow release of steam during cooking. Brush chiles with oil and roast in oven 5 to 10 minutes, until skins are lightly charred and blistered. Place in plastic bag and seal. Let them steam 5 minutes; using small knife, carefully peel off skin. Slit each chile open from top to bottom and remove seeds.
• In boiling salted water cook potatoes until just tender, then drain and place in bowl. Crush with fork, mix in goat cheese, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stuff chiles with this mixture and arrange single layer in baking dish.
• For sauce, in frying pan heat oil, then add red chiles, garlic, and scallions and cook about 2 minutes, until softened. Add tomatoes, corn tortillas, brown sugar, and oregano, and cook over gentle heat 10 minutes. Pour into blender and blitz to almost smooth but slightly textured sauce. Pour sauce over stuffed chiles and bake 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle top with grated cheddar cheese, pour sour cream over that, and serve. Makes 4 servings.

POBLANO CHILES STUFFED WITH CORN AND MONTEREY JACK CHEESE

Steps:

• Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and beer in a bowl. Refrigerate batter 1 hour (it will puff while chilling).
• Place chiles directly over the flame of gas-stove burners on high heat. Roast, turning with tongs, until skins are charred and blistered. (Alternatively, broil chiles on a baking sheet, turning often, until skin is charred, taking care not to overcook. Otherwise, they will be difficult to peel, and flesh may be too soft to stuff.) When chiles are cool enough to handle, slip skins off.
• Leaving stem intact, cut a slit into the side of each chile. Remove seedpod, then insert a stick of cheese.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; saute until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add corn; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon 1/4 cup of corn mixture into each chile, and close up with a toothpick.
• Heat 1 inch oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Dip chiles in batter, and fry in batches (do not crowd skillet) until golden, about 1 minute per side. Drain on paper towels. Serve with sour cream and lime wedges.

STUFFED CHEESE POBLANOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Meanwhile on a gas stove on high or skillet heat chiles directly on flame until charred. Keep in plastic bag for 5 minutes. Peel chiles under cold water.
• Open on one side, remove seeds. Fill each poblano with 3 strips of the cheese. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons shredded mozarella cheese on each chile. Place in 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
• Bake chiles 15 to 20 minutes or until cheeses are melted and chiles are soft.
• Meanwhile, make tomato sauce. Place all sauce ingredients in food processor bowl or blender; process until smooth. Pour sauce into 2 quart saucepan. Cook over medium high heat about 15 minutes or until sauce is slightly reduced and dark red.
• To serve, place tomato sauce on plate; top with stuffed poblano chile. Drizzle with mexican style cream.

CHEESE & GREEN CHILIES STUFFED BURGERS

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together except the cheese slices and chiles.
• Shape the mixture into 12 thin patties, each about 3 1/2-inches in diameter.
• Place 1 cheese slice and 1 tsp of the chiles on each of 6 patties.
• Top with the remaining 6 patties sealing the edges firmly.
• Broil or grill the patties 4-inches from the heat, turning once, until the desired doneness is reached, about 10 to 15 minutes.