Poblano chiles deserve way more love than they get. When they’re cooked they have such an awesome smoky, slightly sweet flavor. There’s nothing quite like it. I love stuffing them, because it gives them a chance to be the star.
Servings: 4 (as an appetizer)
INGREDIENTS
1 cup unsalted raw or roasted pumpkin seeds
½ bunch fresh cilantro, stems trimmed 2 inches from the bottom
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup olive oil, plus extra for storage
½ serrano chile or 1 jalapeño, coarsely chopped (yup, seeds too, if you can take the heat)
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
½ cup crumbled Cacique cotija cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chiles Rellenos with Vegetable Picadillo
4 large poblano chiles
1 tablespoon canola oil
¼ cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
¼ cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
½ cup Cacique queso blanco, diced
1 tablespoon Cilantro Cotija Pesto
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Spread the pumpkin seeds in an even layer on a dry baking sheet. Put the sheet in the oven and bake, checking them and shaking the pan every 3 minutes, until they start to dance, puff up, and brown lightly, about 10 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven, transfer the seeds to a bowl, and let cool to room temperature.
Put the cilantro, basil, and olive oil into a food processor and puree for 2 minutes. Add the chile, garlic, pumpkin seeds, and cotija, and pulse until you have a coarse puree. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
*To store, put it into a container with a tight-fitting lid and pour ¼ inch of olive oil over the surface to keep out the air. Each time you use it, stir that oil in, and replace with another ¼ inch of oil before closing the container. This makes an airtight seal that will keep it tasting fresh for up to 10 days.
Chiles Rellenos with Vegetable Picadillo
Turn two of your stove's burners to medium-high. Place 2 poblano chiles on each burner and roast them, turning them occasionally with tongs, until they're charred all over and soft but not mushy, about 7 minutes. Transfer them to a big bowl or soup pot, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and let the chiles steam for 10 minutes. Peel them, being careful to keep them intact. Rub off the skins; don't rinse under water.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and corn and cook until the onion has softened and the pepper is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and transfer the mixture to a large bowl to cool slightly. Add the cheese and Cilantro-Cotija Pesto and mix well.
Cut a lengthwise slit in each pepper, pull out and discard the seeds and veins, but keep the stem on. Divide the filling among the chiles. Lay them in a 1-quart baking dish and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cheese is melting. Serve at once.
NOTE: If you don't have a gas stove, put your peppers on a baking sheet and cook them under the broiler until they char, turning several times, about 10 minutes all together.