These classic Mexican Chiles Rellenos are so easy to make and delicious to eat. Instructions for two methods are given, choose your favorite and enjoy!
The making of Classic Mexican Chiles Rellenos
While making classic Mexican Chiles Rellenos may seem intimidating, they are really pretty simple to make. A mild roasted/skinned chile, stuffed with cheese, dipped in an egg batter, fried, then covered with a simple tomato sauce. Sounds pretty easy. Right?
Peppers are doing great in the garden this year, so why not make some classic Mexican Chiles Rellenos?.
What kind of chili?
Various types of chiles can be used to make chiles rellenos; I used a California or Anaheim chili, but you could also use a poblano or other mild chile. If you use jalapeños, then you are making a modified popper!
How to roast chilis
There are many ways to roast chilis. You can roast peppers under the broiler (my preferred method), on the stovetop, or even on your grill. If using the oven, place the peppers on a broiler rack, about 2 inches from the flame, and let the get blackened on one side, then turn, cook and continue until all sides are black. Stovetop cooking requires you to watch them a bit more; same with the grill, but the principle is the same, blacken, turn, and continue. Once they have been roasted and left to sit and steam for about 15 minutes in an enclosed container (think paper bag or bowl with a covering); remove the skin and then make a slit from the top to about the middle of the pepper, removing the seeds. LEAVE the stem on!
And please - DO NOT take the skin off under running water, you will just be removing all the wonderful char flavor.
Flavor, that's what we want, flavor!
What's the better batter?
There are three schools of thought on the egg batter in which the chile is dipped; the batter may be flat, fluffy, or extra fluffy. I've made the middle type, fluffy. It's the easiest to manage and I like it best that way. But if you want a flatter batter, then don't separate the eggs when you beat them. If you want a fluffier batter, then add I tablespoon of four for each egg in the recipe.
When doing research for classic Mexican chiles rellenos, I also found there were two ways of getting the batter around the chile.
Method 1: Place a spoonful of batter, about the size of the chile, into a pan of hot oil, place the chile on top then spoon more batter over, using the spoon to smooth the batter over the top and closing up the sides. Fry until golden brown on one side, turn and cook the other side until brown.
Method 2: Dip the chile into a bowl of flour; then gently roll into the batter until covered. Place in hot oil, slit side up, and cook, turning once to brown both sides.
I used Method 2.
Sauce it up
For my sauce, I used a chili tomato sauce that I had already made from fresh tomatoes and chilies; but a simple sauce, of onion, garlic, pureed tomatoes and a bit of chicken stock works. A recipe for that is below. Or just open a can of chile tomato sauce, sauce, such as Ro*tel . Heat and pour.
So good. And easy.
My photos suck, because, well, nobody wanted to wait for me to stage a great photo. But you can't eat pictures. Well, maybe a little bit. Trust me though, these taste better than they look here!
LindySez: The last time I made these with some pepper jack cheese that gave it a little more oomph and a little more heat.
Quality Control
I, of course, try Chiles Rellenos in many restaurants. This is one that I had at a local Mexican place Mi Ranchito. They used the "flat" batter; not bad, but mine is better 🙂
Of course, these are perfect when served with some Authentic Mexican Style Rice or for a lighter fare, try them with a side of Papaya Butterleaf Salad with creamy lime dressing.
Classic Mexican Chiles Rellenos
Ingredients
- For the Rellenos
- 6 whole large California Anaheim chiles or 3 poblano chiles, roasted and peeled, leaving stems on
- 1 pound jack cheese cut into strips about ½ inch wide, 2 inches long and ¼ inch thick
- Flour for dredging
- 4 eggs separated (have no yellow yolks in the white at all, otherwise they will not get stiff when you whip them)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Neutral oil for frying I used grapeseed oil
- For the Tomato Sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 jalapeño stemmed, seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes, blended briefly in the blender
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Optional Ingredients
- Sour cream
- Cilantro leaves
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Carefully slit each pepper lengthwise along the center about ½ to ¾ of the way down, remove seeds and veins. Fill each pepper with several strips of cheese, roll in the flour, and set aside.
- Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl, stir in the baking powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks (best to use an electric mixer for this); gently fold in the egg yolk mixture.
- Pour oil into a frying pan to the depth of 1 inch; heat to 400 °F. Take a chile and roll it in the egg batter, gently lay, seam side up, in the hot oil to cook. Cook until brown, then gently turn, cook the other side. Drain briefly on paper towels to drain.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a skillet heat the oil over medium heat; add the onions and jalapeño; sauté until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes; add the garlic, cook 1 minute more; add the tomatoes and chicken stock, bring to a simmer and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Lay the relleno into the sauce and simmer for just a few minutes (do not cook too long or the coating will separate and get very soggy); turn to coat. Place relleno on plate and spoon sauce over. Serve immediately. Top with optional ingredients, if desired.
brian
These were nothing short of phenomenal...the batter is perfect; light and crispy and compliments the pepper. Try using a pepper flavored jack cheese for the stuffing
Poppy
I've got the peppers, eggs, and tomatoes - not sure about the culinary skills though. Folding, roasting and peeling! Oh my. These looks so good.
LindySez
You can do it. Just follow the easy to follow directions 🙂