Chiles Rellenos by Paulina Alvarez

Videography and production by Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian

Chiles Rellenos are a recipe that brings Paulina’s family together. Passed down from generations, Paulina learned to cook the family’s favorite dish at a young age and now she masters it. The mixture of spice from the peppers and savory taste of cheese come together in this traditional Mexican dish.

Ingredients

4 Chiles Poblanos (Poblano peppers)

15 oz of queso fresco

2 cups of all-purpose flour

2 eggs

½ cup of vegetable oil

Preparation time: 60-90 minutes

Instructions

1. Place the chiles Poblanos directly on the stove burner. Let the chiles toast for a few minutes, carefully rotating them, until the skin turns black.
2. Put the chiles inside a plastic bag to let the steam soften the skin.
3. Peel the burnt skin with the help of a small, not too sharp knife.
4. Once the skin is removed from the chiles, make an opening by cutting a line of approximately two inches by using the knife.
5. With a clean spoon, carefully remove the seeds from inside of the chile.
6. Cut the queso fresco in medium pieces and stuff the chile through the aperture made in the previous step.
7. To close the chile, place a couple of toothpicks by inserting them into the chile’s skin.
8. Place the flour on a wide plate and cover the chile relleno with a uniform coat of flour.
9. Separate the yolks from the egg and mix the egg whites until it forms a meringue. Once the consistency of the meringue is uniform, slowly add the egg yolks while slowly mixing the eggs.
10. Dip the chile relleno into the egg mixture and take it to a frying pan with hot vegetable oil.
11. With the help of a spoon, slowly pour hot oil over the chile before turning.
12. Flip the chile a couple times, repeating step 11 to ensure the egg coat is completely cooked.
13. Once the egg is fully cooked, take the chile relleno off the pan and place it in a wide plate or pan covered with absorbent paper or paper towels.
14. Serve with rice and salad (suggestion).

Option: Substitute the queso fresco with your favorite type of cheese, beef, or chicken.

Filed under: Class Projects, Entrees, Recipes, Video Features | Tagged: family recipe, Mexican dishes, traditional food |