Real Chiles Rellenos Recipe
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Real Chiles Rellenos

"Just like your favorite Mexican restaurant! This unique, flavorful sauce and light, crispy batter will make it worth the little effort and time to prepare this cheesy classic at home. The steps are easy, and you can find Mexican oregano and comino in the Mexican spice section of any grocery store. Stuff and freeze the peppers in advance to save time! "

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.7 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (58)

Prep Time:
45 Min
Cook Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
2 Hrs 20 Min

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 4 stuffed peppers
 

Ingredients

  • 4 large poblano peppers
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
  •  
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Cholula®)
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  •  
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 5 egg whites at room temperature
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten
  •  
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
  • 1 cup oil for frying, or as needed
  • sour cream for garnish

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and place the peppers onto the prepared baking sheet.
  2. Cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 8 to 10 minutes per side. When the peppers are about 80 percent blackened, place them a plastic bag, seal, and allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Once cool, remove the skins and discard. Cut a slit lengthwise into the side of each pepper, and remove seeds and veins. To reduce spiciness, rinse out any remaining seeds with water. Pat the peppers dry with paper towels.
  3. Mix together the shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar cheese in a bowl until thoroughly blended. Divide the cheese into 4 portions, and squeeze each portion lightly in your hands to make a cone shape. Insert a cone into the slit in each pepper, and pin the openings closed with toothpicks. Dredge each pepper in flour, dust off the excess, and place on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper or waxed paper. Place the peppers in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
  4. To make sauce, blend the stewed tomatoes in a blender until pureed, and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cook and stir for about 30 seconds, and pour in the pureed tomatoes, chicken broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, black pepper, hot pepper sauce, and cinnamon. Reduce to medium-low, and simmer the sauce until reduced by half and thickened, about 20 minutes, stirring often.
  5. Preheat an oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C), and warm a platter in the oven.
  6. To make batter and finish the chiles rellenos, mix 1/3 cup flour with salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until the whites form stiff peaks. Lightly mix the egg yolk and flour-salt mixture into the egg whites to make a fluffy batter. Remove peppers from freezer and coat them in flour again; shake off excess flour, and dip each pepper into the egg batter, using a spoon to gently but completely coat each pepper with batter.
  7. Heat frying oil in a heavy cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Gently lay the coated peppers into the hot oil, and fry on both sides until the batter is golden brown and the cheese filling is hot, about 5 minutes per side. Remove peppers to warmed platter while you finish frying. To serve, ladle a generous spoonful of sauce onto plate, and place pepper on sauce. Serve peppers hot with a dollop of sour cream.

Footnotes

  • Cook's Note
  • As written, this recipe is very mild. Try different cheeses, pepper jack, Oaxaca, quesadilla cheese, etc., or even fill with meat, beans, sour cream or rice! Be sure your egg whites are at room temperature so they will beat up nice and fluffy. Freshly shredded cheeses will stick together best when forming filling.
  • Editor's Note
  • The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the breading ingredients. The actual amount of the breading consumed will vary. We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and the specific type of oil used.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 418 | Total Fat: 22.9g | Cholesterol: 89mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 3, 2011 by ellie may Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
I will attempt to write a review as I am moaning in ecstatic enthusiasm over this, the best...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on May 4, 2010 by *Fat~Dog~Lane*   view full review
I use the side of a spoon to scrape/remove the charred skin from the chilis & it works great...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 9, 2010 by Janlyn   view full review
This is an excellent recipe: very clearly written with step by step directions that won't...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 18, 2011 by Kim   view full review
THIS RECIPE IS FABULOUS! I have made it at least seven times and it comes out perfectly. ...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 9, 2010 by moekitten   view full review
I eat this at nearly every Mexican restaurant we go to, and this recipe was excellent!...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 20, 2011 by Stacia Frase   view full review
these were good. i was worried about the cheese oozing out. As long as you pat the batter on...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 19, 2011 by vkyboo Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
My family loved these! Although time-consuming, I thought they were worth it. I'll be making...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 28, 2010 by jo ann   view full review
My husband would order Chiles Rellenos every time we went to any Mexican resturaunt. After...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on May 6, 2010 by flacaConfectionist   view full review
Thanks so much for taking the time to post this awesome dish, *Fat~Dog! To be fair, I love...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.7 star rating.
Reviewed on Aug. 20, 2011 by Elisabeth Thomas   view full review
Best chile rellenos I've ever had! I've tried a few different recipes and also had these in...

 

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