Monday, July 5, 2010

Chiles Rellenos

Last month when we were on our way home from vacation, we were driving through the barren southern California desert.  When we were almost to the Arizona border we decided to stop in a dusty little town to find some sustenance and found a shabby little out of the way Mexican place.  When we sat down we were served some salsa that some of the family members deemed the best ever and so I thought to myself "this is probably the perfect place to get some awesome chiles rellenos".  I was wrong.  
So since that time I've had chiles rellenos on my mind and finally did what any self respecting desert dweller would do, and made them myself.  



This is yet another recipe from Tyler Florence's "Dinner At My Place".  



I thought these were just delicious.  The outside is crispy and light, and when you bite into it you're rewarded with melty, gooey cheese.  I served mine topped with sour cream and PW's salsa.



I'm glad I made them, although they are somewhat labor intensive.  Probably not something I will be doing everyday.  Here's the recipe...

Ingredients:
6 poblanos
2 pounds queso fresco, room temperature
Kosher salt
6 egg whites
1 cup all-purpose flour
Extra-virgin olive oil
 
For serving:
1/4 small onion
3 baby radishes
2 tablespoons crumbled queso fresco
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Set the poblanos over an open gas flame on your stovetop for 30 to 45 seconds per side, rotating with metal tongs until they are blistered all over (or place poblanos on a roasting tray under the broiler for 4 to 5 minutes and turn occasionally until blistered on all sides). Once blistered, place hot poblanos in a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to let the poblanos steam, about 2 minutes. Use a kitchen towel to "rub" off the blistered skin, then use a sharp paring knife to make a slit the length of each poblano. Remove the ribs and seeds carefully so you don't tear the poblanos. Sprinkle poblanos lightly with salt. Stuff the inside of each poblano with queso fresco. Secure the openings with toothpicks.
2. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and cover the bottom of the pan with 1/4 inch oil. Meanwhile, whisk egg whites in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Place the flour in a medium bowl. Dredge the stuffed poblanos in flour, coat in egg whites, and fry in the hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden on both sides. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until heated through.
3. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, shave onion and radishes into rings. Garnish poblanos with onion, radishes, queso fresco, and cilantro.
 

 

35 comments:

From the Kitchen said...

Could you send me your address so that the next time we're driving through the desert we can stop at your house? Oh my, you and Tyler outdid yourselves!

Best,
Bonnie

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I've never had them. They look good.
~ingrid

Btw, I'll get that email back to you tonight.

Monet said...

My husband loves chiles rellenos, but I've never made them on my own. I can't wait to give these a go. I would love to have a plate of these tonight!

Sook said...

Homemade chile rellano is so wonderful! Yours looks so awesome!

Unknown said...

Chiles Rellenos is one of my favorite Mexican meals. We have a little hole in the wall restaurant in Farmington, New Mexico that we love to go to for this dish.

Katy ~ said...

Oh my goodness these recent posts of yours are absolutely MOUTHWATERING!! I lingered and oohed and aaaahed over every single one, wishing I could have big bites of everything that I saw. Of course that peach with brandy really caught my eye, grins. I'm such a dessert girl.

Now you're going to have me looking for that pillow. I can't seem to find one that I love; I think you may have found the answer for me.

Reeni said...

I never made or ate these before! But I am growing poblanos so I guess this is where their headed...and I can't wait - looks delicious!

pam said...

Would you please come over and make these for me? I really, really want them, but I don't like the words labor intensive.

♥peachkins♥ said...

Isn't that frustrating? Anyways, I love spicy dishes too and this looks awesome!


blowing peachkisses
The Peach Kitchen
peach and things

Chef Dennis Littley said...

I absolutely love chiles rellenos, yours look so very very good! Sorry you were disappointed with the ones you were served...but at least we got to see some really good ones that you made!

carma said...

gosh I feel so out of the loop - have never heard of half of these dishes :D

I get scared away from making dishes with more than 5 ingredients...

grace said...

outstanding. i love me some mexican food, and this is it at its finest! terrific cheese porn. :)

Joanne said...

I really need to cook more from Dinner At My Place. I love Tyler and this recipe of his looks stellar!

Autumn @Good Eats Girl said...

I'm totally drooling right now! Chile rellenos are hands down one of my favorite dishes! I've been talking about making them forever, but too scared to do so! You may have just given me a push in the right direction!

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Snaps to you for putting in the extra effort to make these. They look delicious!

The JR said...

I quit ordering Chili Rellenos because they are more times horrible than not. I've found its pretty hard to mess up a salad or enchilada so that's pretty much all I try at new places.

These look fantastic. I can that I might have to be making some very soon!

Tiffanee said...

Wow! These look amazing. Forget that restaurant. I am coming to your house!! Yum!!

The Blonde Duck said...

Those are so popular down here and I still haven't tried them. Must remedy that!

Mara said...

Hey mom, you're awesome

Diana's Cocina said...

Chili Rellenos are 1st on my list when we go to a mexican restaurant. I have had my fare share of bad rellenos too. You did a great job on yours. Don't you just love Tyler?

Recipe for Delicious said...

These look great! I tried making them for the first time the other day and I roasted the peppers waaaaay to long. They fell apart when I stuffed them. I'll have to try your way. Thanks!

Recipe for Delicious said...

These look great! I tried making them for the first time the other day and I roasted the peppers waaaaay to long. They fell apart when I stuffed them. I'll have to try your way. Thanks! And thanks for visiting my blog!

Julie M. said...

Your rellenos look lovely and delicious as well! I may have to try this! Hope you had a nice 4th of July holiday!

Donna-FFW said...

I have always wanted to try and make these.. I am so Glad you posted them. I will have to do Tylers version. They look FANTASTIC!!!!

Lara said...

Wow, I'm drooling over these and it's only 7:30am. This looks like my kind of meal. :)

Anonymous said...

Those have been on my long list of things to make forever! And I have a deep fryer :D

Juliana said...

Wow, you made chile relenos? Yummie! I love this dish...but never made it at home...should try it soon...yours look delicious :-)

the wicked noodle said...

I adore chile rellenos! Adding you recipe to this weeks list :-)

Karen said...

Rellenos are my favorite Mex food ever! A restaurant just before the AZ border... were you in El Centro? Holtville? That area has THE best Mex food anywhere... I'd be interested to know where you stopped! Since moving to Montana from the desert, I've had to make my own rellenos, too... they are so good, but you're right... a lot of work!

The Blonde Duck said...

Have you ever tried to make tamales?

Daily Freebies said...

Looks wonderful!! Nice work!

momgateway said...

I'm a big fan of Tyler too and your chiles rellenos are lovely!

Anonymous said...

I just love chiles rellenos and would love to make them at home but unfortunately poblanos are not easy to find here in Toronto. I have a few recipes I want to try that call for them so I'm just going to have to keep searching. They must be somewhere! Your chiles rellenos look scrumptious!!

Kim said...

Go Tyler Go! I've always wanted to do this recipe. It looks so cheesy and delicious. I bet they were gobbled up quickly.

I'm definitely adding this one to the list.

Deborah said...

I love chile rellenos, but I've never tried to make them because my mom's are SO good and I know mine won't match up. But maybe these would!!