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Chile Rellenos

Perfect for any time of day, this recipe delivers great flavor effortlessly.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Salsa Roja:
  • 6 Roma tomatoes, quartered
  • ½ small yellow onion, quartered
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 jalapeno, stem & seeds removed
  • 5 sprigs of cilantro
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Chile Rellenos:
  • 4 large poblano peppers
  • 6 oz Oaxaca cheese, cut into long strips or sticks ***Monterey Jack will also work
  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • sea salt, to taste
  • 3 large eggs
For Serving:
  • cilantro, chopped
  • cotija cheese, crumbled
  • Lime wedges
  • Sour cream, if desired
  • Hot sauce, if desired

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Make the salsa roja by placing the tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro in a blender. Puree until smooth. 
  2. Heat the teaspoon of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the tomato puree and bring to a boil. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, while you prepare the chile rellenos. 
  3. Make the chile rellenos by preheating the oven to broil and setting the rack directly under the broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil, then place the whole peppers on top.
  4. Broil the peppers for 3-4 minutes, or until the skin is blackened and blistered. Carefully flip them over and broil them for another 3-4 minutes, or until the skin is blackened and blistered.
  5. Remove from the oven and place the charred chiles in a large zip lock bag, then seal. Allow them to steam for 5-7 minutes. 
  6. Peel the charred skin off the peppers and discard it. 
  7. Cut a small slit down the middle of the peppers with a knife. Carefully remove the seeds.
  8. Gently stuff the peppers with Oaxaca cheese and seal them with toothpicks. Side Note: The peppers are very fragile and may tear–that's okay. Just do the best you can.
  9. Prepare the oil for frying by heating it in a large saucepan or deep large skillet over medium-high heat. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set it aside. Prepare the batter while the oil is heating.
  10. Make the batter by separating the egg whites from the yolks in two separate bowls, making sure the whites are in a large bowl.
  11. Beat the egg whites with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
  12. While continuing to beat the egg whites on low, add in the yolks, one at a time, until they are fully mixed in. The batter should be light, fluffy, and smooth.
  13. Place the flour on a plate and season with sea salt; mix to combine. 
  14. Coat the peppers with batter by first dredging the peppers in the flour, then tapping off excess flour. Dip the dredged pepper into the egg batter until completely covered. 
  15. Fry the chile rellenos by carefully dipping the coated chiles into the hot oil and frying for about 3-5 minutes per side, until they are golden brown and crispy. Side Note: Don't overcrowd the pan–I used a small skillet, so I fried them one at a time.
  16. Remove from the oil and place on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain off excess oil. Quickly season with a bit of sea salt, if desired.
  17. Immediately serve the chile rellenos on a plate with the warm roja sauce, freshly chopped cilantro, and some cotija cheese crumbles. Side Note: Remind your family or dinner guests about the toothpicks when they dig in to eat them!