Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by My Back Kitchen
Chile Rellenos con Carne de Puerco, or Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Pork, is a vibrant and delectable dish that combines the smoky heat of poblano peppers with the savory richness of seasoned pork. Hailing from Mexican cuisine, this culinary masterpiece has captivated taste buds with its harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
A Taste of Mexican Culinary Heritage:
Chile Rellenos con Carne de Puerco is deeply rooted in Mexican culinary heritage, reflecting the country’s love for bold and robust flavors. Poblano peppers, known for their mild heat and slightly sweet taste, are a popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine. When combined with succulent pork, this dish embodies the essence of traditional Mexican cooking, bringing together authentic ingredients and time-honored techniques.
Preparing the Poblano Peppers:
The first step in creating our Chile Rellenos is to prepare the poblano peppers. The peppers are roasted or charred over an open flame, allowing their skin to blister and blacken. This process not only imparts a smoky flavor to the peppers but also helps in loosening the skin for easy removal. Once charred, the peppers are placed in a plastic bag to steam, allowing the skin to loosen further. They are then peeled, carefully ensuring that the flesh remains intact.
Crafting the Pork Filling:
The pork filling is the heart of our Chile Rellenos. Pork that has been boiled and chopped fine is seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices, which infuse the meat with robust flavor. The seasoned pork is then mixed with onions, garlic, blended tomatoes and raisins to enhance its depth and richness. This savory mixture serves as the stuffing for the prepared poblano peppers, providing a delectable contrast to their mild heat.
Stuffing and Breading the Peppers:
With the poblano peppers roasted and the pork filling prepared, it’s time to stuff the peppers. Each pepper is carefully slit open to create a pocket, allowing the pork filling to be generously spooned inside. The peppers are then delicately folded over to encase the filling, ensuring that it remains intact during cooking. To add an extra layer of texture and flavor, the stuffed peppers are traditionally coated in a light, fluffy egg batter and fried until golden brown and crisp. Alternatively, they can be baked in the oven.
Serving and Enjoyment:
Our Chile Rellenos con Carne de Puerco is served with a generous ladle of our rich sweet and spice tomato salsa, which adds a tangy and slightly spicy kick to the dish. The contrast between the smoky, roasted pepper, the savory pork filling, and the zesty tomato sauce creates a harmonious medley of flavors. These stuffed peppers can be enjoyed as a standalone main course, accompanied by our Mexican rice and borracho beans, or served as part of a larger Mexican feast.
Chile Rellenos con Carne de Puerco showcases the artistry and passion of Mexican cuisine, where humble ingredients are transformed into a symphony of flavors. This dish brings together the smoky heat of poblano peppers and the savory allure of seasoned pork to create a culinary experience that is both comforting and exciting. Whether you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine or seeking an adventure for your taste buds, Chile Rellenos con Carne de Puerco promises to delight with every mouthwatering bite. This dish is a labor of love, but well worth the effort. So, savor the flavors, embrace the vibrant traditions, and let this stuffed pepper dish transport you to the heart of Mexico’s culinary heritage. Enjoy!
-MBK
Relleno (Filling)
Ingredients
- 4 lbs. pork shoulder roast cut into large pieces
- 1/2 white onion quartered
- 1 Tbsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 white onion diced
- 1 jalapeno
- 2 lbs. roma tomato blended
- 1 whole jalapeno
- 1 cup raisins
- salt
- pepper
- garlic powder
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, add pork and cover with just enough water to cover. Add 1/2 quartered onion, 1 jalapeno, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 cloves garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns. Bring to boil and continue to cook over medium heat until pork is tender, about 45 minutes. TIP: Taking meat out of the refrigerator 30 min to an hour before cooking will help speed up your cooking time.
- Once pork is cooked, remove from stock. While warm, using two forks, shred meat (or chop with cleaver) into bite size pieces. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, add two tablespoons vegetable oil, and heat to medium-high heat. Add diced onion, 1 whole Jalapeno and shredded pork. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Brown pork until you see the edges of meat get golden and slightly crisped. Add blended tomato, raisins and correct seasonings. If mixture seems too dry, add a bit of the reserved cooking liquid.
- Cook over medium heat until most of the liquid has evaporated. The mixture should look moist but not soupy. Set aside to cool.TIP: Relleno can be made ahead and frozen for later use.
Nutrition
Roasting Poblano Peppers
Ingredients
- 14-18 poblano peppers depending on size
Instructions
- Roast the chiles directly over the flame on your stovetop, making sure not to leave the chiles unattended. Using metal tongs, rotate the peppers until they are evenly blackened. If you do not have a gas stove, you can lay the chiles on an ungreased baking sheet and place in a preheated oven on broil and rotating every few minutes until charred. It is important to make sure your oven is fully preheated to avoid overcooking your chiles.
- Once the chiles have been roasted, place them in a plastic grocery bag to sweat for 5 minutes. This will help loosen the skin, making them easier to peel.
- After 5 minutes, or when the chiles are cool enough to work with, remove them from the bag. Place the chiles under cool running water and rub the skin off with your fingers or with a paper towel.
- Carefully create a slit on one side of the pepper to remove the seeds and veins. If you are going to use the chiles to make chiles rellenos, leave the stem intact. Otherwise, you can remove it.
Nutrition
Assembling Chiles & Frying
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour + more for dusting
- 6 whole eggs separated
- 2 cups vegetable oil
Instructions
- Spoon the cooled relleno (filling) into the chiles, making sure not to overstuff. The skin of the chile should be able to just barley close. Set aside on tray. At this point, if you are not ready to cook all chiles, wrap individually in plastic wrap, place in large ziploc bags and freeze. Defrost in refrigerator overnight before using and proceed with following steps.
- In a large frying pan, heat vegetable oil.
- While oil is heating, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly sprinkle in the flour and beat until stiff peaks form, making sure not to over beat the egg whites to the point where they appear dry.
- Using a spatula, gently fold egg yolks into egg white mixture until fully combined.
- Check oil to confirm the temperature is 350 degrees.
- Lightly dust your chiles in flour, removing all excess flour. Carefully drop one chile at a time into the egg white mixture. Using a large spoon, encase the chile in the egg white mixture, remove, and carefully place in hot oil to fry. Using a large spoon, baste the top of the chile with oil to help cook. Gently roll the chile over to the other side and repeat until golden brown. Place on a paper towel to drain any excess oil and then keep in the oven on warm. Repeat with all remaining chiles.
Nutrition
Sweet and Spicy Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 lb. tomatoes seeded & blended
- 1/2 cup white or yellow onion chopped fine
- 1 chile serrano seeded and chopped fine
- 1 jalapeno (optional for more spice) seeded and chopped fine
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. vinegar
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a sauce pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add jalapeno, serrano, onion, garlic and salt. Cook until onion is translucent. Add blended tomato, sugar, pepper and vinegar.
- Cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir, taste and correct seasonings if needed.
- This salsa can be made in advance and freezes beautifully.