Chiles en Nogada
A classic Mexican dish for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Made with green poblano chiles, stuffed with beef or pork picadillo and topped with walnut cream sauce and red pomegranate seeds. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the defeat of the French army by the peasants of Puebla in 1862…shortly thereafter the French army triumphed again to overtake the country. Puebla, Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo because of the heroic efforts of the peasants, the holiday has nothing to do with mayonnaise or Mexican Independence Day but everyone is a little Mexican on Cinco de Mayo just like everyone is a little Irish on St. Patty’s Day. Parties abound at pubs, restaurants and homes. You can have your own party and celebrate this fun holiday with mariachi music, sombreros, margaritas, lots of flamboyant zinnias, piñatas, and wonderful Mexican food like this chile stuffed with beef or pork picadillo.
- 6 large green poblano chiles
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 lb. ground beef or pork
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 apple, peeled, cored, chopped
- 2 Tbsp blanched almonds, chopped
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 2 Tbsp raisins, softened in 1/4 cup warm water
- 3 eggs, separated
- 1 Tbsp flour
- 2 Tbsp oil for frying
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp sugar or honey
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped fine
- fresh pomegranate seeds for garnish
- Roast chiles over a flame or under a broiler until blackened. Let rest in a plastic bag for 5-10 minutes. Remove skins, slit open one side of each chile and remove the seeds and veins.
- Warm oil in a skillet over medium high heat, add meat and brown until nearly done.
- Add the garlic, onion, apple, almonds, spices, raisins, and cilantro. Cook for 5-7 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, sift flour over egg whites and fold in, then fold in beaten egg yolks with a pinch of salt.
- Warm 2 Tbsp of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stuff chiles with meat mixture, dip each stuffed chile in the egg mixture and fry until golden brown, turning once.
- Whisk sour cream with evaporated milk, add walnuts, sugar or honey, and pour over hot chiles just before serving with a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds on top. Serves 6.
