Chiles Stuffed with Corn & Crema
- 6 poblano chiles
- Kernels from 5 ears fresh corn, or 3 cups frozen corn, defrosted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
- Black pepper
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup Mexican crema, homemade (page 102) or store-bought
- Over an open flame of a gas stove or barbeque grill or in a dry cast-iron or nonstick skillet over high heat, roast the chiles until they are charred on all sides.
- This will take a few minutes over an open flame and about 10 minutes in a skillet.
- Remove the chiles from the heat and seal in a plastic bag for 5 minutes.
- This will create steam and allow the skins to separate from the flesh.
- If you dont have a plastic bag, place the chiles in a bowl and cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
- Peel away the skins.
- Cut a slit down one side of each roasted and peeled poblano chile, starting just under the stem and going all the way down to the tip.
- Remove all the seeds and as much of the veins as you can, being careful not to rip the chile.
- Set aside.
- If you are using fresh corn, husk the corn, remove the silks, and slice the kernels from the cobs with a knife.
- Pour the oil into a large saute pan set over medium-high heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion becomes translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Add the corn kernels, season with the salt and pepper, and continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until the corn begins to just turn a golden brown color.
- Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Stuff 1/2 cup of the sauteed corn mixture into a chile.
- Top the corn with 1/4 cup shredded cheese, 1 1/2 tablespoons crema, and another 1 1/2 tablespoons shredded cheese.
- The chile should be fat and full.
- Place the stuffed chile, slit side up, in a baking dish and repeat with the remaining chiles.
- (The size and shape of the baking dish is not important, as long as the chiles are placed in a single layer.)
- Arrange the chiles side by side in the dish; they can be touching, if needed.
- Its a good idea to select a dish that you would be happy taking to the table, as the chiles are best eaten straight from the oven.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Then broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese turns golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve warm in the baking dish or transfer to a serving platter.
- INGREDIENTS
- Poblano Chiles
- There really is no substitute for the rich-tasting and slightly hot poblano chile.
- Resist using a bell pepper in its place because the flavor and color of the dish will not be the same.
- Frozen Corn
- If you are using frozen corn, measure the amount needed before defrosting.
- Mexican Crema
- Do not substitute sour cream for the crema in this recipe because sour cream tends to separate when baked.
- A suitable substitute would be creme fraiche.
- TECHNIQUE
- Removing Corn Kernels
- I find that the easiest way to do this is to work with the corn in a horizontal position and essentially slice four sides off of the ear of corn.
- You will need a large chefs knife.
- Place the corn on a cutting board lengthwise in front of you and position the tip of your knife blade on the top right side of the corn then slice off the entire right side.
- To help avoid cutting into the cob, place your blade one kernel in from the edge.
- Rotate the ear of corn clockwise and repeat with the remaining three sides.
- ADVANCE PREPARATION
- The chiles can be roasted a day in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator.
- The corn mixture also can be sauteed ahead of time.
- The chiles can be assembled a few hours in advance, but should be baked just before serving.
chiles, kernels, olive oil, red onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, shredded monterey jack cheese
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chiles-stuffed-with-corn-crema-380168 (may not work)