- The original handed-down casserole recipe called for 1 large can of Ortega chiles. When the chiles soak in their own juices for an extended period of time, it changes the flavor. I strongly recommend using fresh peppers.
- Grilling the peppers on an outdoor grill makes the roasting process quick and less mess on your stove top.
- When shopping for Anaheim/Hatch peppers for Chile Rellenos, select peppers that are straight and less curvaceous. It will make grilling them evenly easier.
- Making your own sauce either with fresh, stewed tomatoes or using a can of whole peeled tomatoes gives you much more control of the flavors and how much salt is used.
- Make extra sauce to pour over individual servings and maybe drizzling some on your Spanish Rice accompaniment.
- Sprinkle crumbled Cotija cheese on top of each serving for that great cheese flavor and aesthetics.
8-10 Anaheim peppers aka Hatch chiles
Sauce
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup brown onion, diced
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes in tomato juice, blended
Salt and pepper, to taste
Egg Mixture
6 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
6 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 1/2 cups Colby Jack Cheese (or mix of cheddar and jack cheese)
Cotija cheese for garnish (optional)
Roast the peppers: Using a grill or gas burners, roast the peppers until blackened. After roasting each pepper, place in plastic bag while roasting the others and allow to steam within the bag. When all the peppers are roasted, cut the stems off, split open and clean the roasted peppers by pulling out the seeds and membrane and peeling/sliding the skins off (it helps to run the peppers under cold water while peeling). Dry the clean peppers with paper towels and set aside.
Chile Relleno Prep – Roasting the Peppers
Make the Sauce: In a medium-sized saucepan, sauté the onions in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil until transparent. Add the whole peeled tomatoes and its juices, salt and pepper and simmer on medium-low heat until slightly thickened (about 10-15 minutes).
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a 13″ x 9″ baking dish by spraying non-stick spray along the bottom and sides. Line bottom of pan with half of the prepared peppers. Evenly distribute 2 1/4 cups of the cheese on top of the first layer of peppers. Repeat with the rest of the peppers and cheese (your last layer will be cheese).
Chile Relleno Prep – Layering
Beat egg whites until a soft peak forms. Mix together the milk, flour, egg yolks & salt and pepper. Blend the milk mixture with the egg whites. Pour over the layers of peppers and cheese.
Chile Relleno Prep – Egg Mixture
Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and evenly distribute the sauce over the top. Return the baking dish to the oven for another 30 minutes. Let set about 5-8 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese, serve warm with Spanish Rice and Salsa. Enjoy!