Recipe from Epicurious Originally featured in BON APPÉTIT | December 2002
YIELD: 8 chiles
TIME: 1 hour
A bit of an investment but worth the effort for sure! The red pepper sauce is amazing. Serve with rice and black beans on the side!
Ingredients:
FOR THE CHILIES:
8 large poblano chilies* (each about 3 ounces)
8 ounces peeled deveined cooked shrimp, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup soft fresh goat cheese (about 4 ounces), room temperature
1/2 cup (packed) grated Panela cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped shallot
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Red Bell Pepper Sauce
Fresh basil leaves (optional)
FOR THE RED BELL PEPPER SAUCE:
2 large red bell peppers
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 serrano chili or jalapeño chili, seeded, minced
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
Preparation:
FOR THE CHILIES:
Char poblano chilies over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag 10 minutes. Peel chilies. Using small sharp knife, carefully slit chilies open along 1 side. Remove seeds, leaving stems attached.
Mix shrimp and next 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fill chilies with shrimp mixture, dividing equally. Pull up sides of chilies to enclose filling. Place stuffed chilies on baking sheet. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake chilies uncovered until heated through and cheeses melt, about 15 minutes.
Spoon 3 tablespoons Red Bell Pepper Sauce onto each of 8 plates. Place 1 stuffed chili atop sauce on each. Garnish with basil leaves, if desired, and serve.
FOR THE RED BELL PEPPER SAUCE:
Char bell peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag 10 minutes. Peel, seed, and coarsely chop bell peppers.
Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, and chili; sauté until shallots are tender, about 5 minutes. Cool slightly. Transfer mixture to blender; add bell peppers and chicken broth. Puree until smooth. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.)
Tips:
Instead of Panela, other soft white Mexican cheeses — such as Oaxaca, or those used for making quesadillas — work well in this recipe. If none is available, substitute Monterey Jack cheese. The stuffed chilies can be assembled one day before baking.
What to drink: A Napa or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (or any dry but fruity white wine).
Fresh green poblano chilies, also known as pasillas are available at Latin American markets and some supermarkets