This recipe for authentic chiles en nogada based on an old family recipe from Yuriria, Guanajuato that dates back to the 1950's. Filling includes beef, pork and biznaga, candied cactus that gives the dish a delicate sweetness.
Prep Time45 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr
Total Time1 hourhr45 minutesmins
Course: Holiday, Stuffed Pepper
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Chiles en Nogada, Chiles en Nogada Recipe, How to Make Chiles en Nogada
Servings: 6
Calories: 654kcal
Author: Douglas Cullen
Ingredients
6large poblano chilesabout 6" long
FILLING
10ozs. beef
10ozs. pork
1medium carrot
1medium white onion
1medium waxy potato
1medium zucchini squash
3plum tomatoesRoma tomatoes
½cuppeas
8ozs. biznaga or candied fruit or dried fruit
½cupraisins
½cupalmonds
½tsp.cinnamon
1tbsp brown sugar
1tsp salt + salt to taste
NOGADA
1 ¼cupMexican creamdo not use sour cream
½cupshelled walnuts
½teaspooncinnamon
1tbsp brown sugar
GARNISH
2small pomegranates or 1 large
1small bunch of parsley
Instructions
PRECOOK THE MEAT
Place the meat in a pan and just cover with water. Bring to a simmer and cook the meat until just cooked through (about 20 minutes) turning once. When the meat is cooked remove it from the pan and allow it to cool to the touch. Reserve the cooking liquid.
CHOP THE INGREDIENTS
Chop the meat into cubes first then chop finely.
Chop the onion, carrot, zucchini, potato and candied fruit into ¼" cubes.
Chop the almond very fine.
PREPARE THE TOMATO BASE
Slice the tomatoes in half and add them to your blender with ½ cup of the cooking liquid from the meat.
Blend until smooth but not liquefied.
COOK THE FILLING
Fry the onions in 3 tablespoons of oil for 2 minutes.
Add the potatoes, stir and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the chopped meat and stir.
Add the pureed tomato.
Add the carrots, zucchini, and raisins and cook for 5 minutes until the tomato puree is starting to reduce.
Add the peas, biznaga or candied fruit and almonds. stir well.
Cook for 15 minutes until all of the vegetables are fully cooked and tender and the liquid is reduced.
Note: If the filling starts to get too dry before all of the ingredients are fully cooked add the cooking liquid from the meat a few tablespoons at a time as needed.
ROAST AND CLEAN THE POBLANO CHILES
Place the chiles over the open flame on the burner on your stove. Note: Do not leave chiles unattended.
Blacken and blister the skin on all sides.
When you have roasted all of the chiles place them in a plastic bag to sweat them.
Scrape the skin the chiles with the blade of a knife.
Using a small knife, gently split the chile down the side without cutting all the way through the tip of the chile.
Remove the seeds inside the chile with your fingers without tearing the chile.
PREPARE THE NOGADA
Place the cream, walnuts, and cinnamon in your blender.
Blend until the walnuts are completely incorporated into the sauce and the sauce is smooth.
PREPARE THE GARNISHES
Slice the pomegranates in half.
Remove the seeds from your pomegranates.
Chop the parsley very finely reserving a few leaves to use as decoration.
SERVE THE CHILES EN NOGADA
Fill each poblano chile with enough filling so that it will just close. Use toothpicks to keep each chile closed if needed.
Place 1 stuffed chile on each plate.
Spoon nogada over the stuffed chile until the chile is completely covered.
Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley over the chile covered in nogada.
Decorate with a 1 or 2 parsley leaves.
Notes
If you have time, allow the filling to rest for 2 hours so that the flavors can meld.