This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Albertsons. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hatch Chiles Rellenos
Chiles rellenos are one of my very favorite Mexican-style dishes. I love ordering them at restaurants and trying all the different variations. Making them at home can be a but of a labor of love, but it is SO worth it! Although chiles rellenos can be made with a variety of green peppers, our favorite method (and some may argue the most authentic method) uses Hatch chiles. Hatch chiles are easy to work with and the flavor beats out any other chile.
What are Hatch Chiles?
Hatch chiles are a popular green chile that originated in New Mexico. They can be spicy but the ones I got were quite mild and perfect for chiles rellenos (this could have been because I removed the seeds). I love the flavor of Hatch chilies, because they have a nice earthy, and slightly sweet flavor. They are SO GOOD roasted and added to recipes. They go well in soups, dips, sauces, and any recipe that called for diced chiles.
Where to find Hatch Chiles
I found these Hatch chiles at Albertsons Market Street (in Meridian, ID). Both the Market Street location and the Broadway location are offering fresh Hatch Chiles (and all sorts of fun, new Hatch chile grocery items) right now. You can even buy the chiles in bulk and the will roast them for you for free! If you don’t want to buy a bunch in bulk, they have some that are roasted and ready-to-eat right there in the store. I bought a bag to use in our Pork Chile Verde recipe later this week. If you don’t want to go into the store to find Hatch chiles, Albertsons also offers Grocery Delivery and Drive Up & Go™ for convenient ways to shop! Be sure to ask your local Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market and Tom Thumb about Hatch Chile offerings in your area.
What Cheese is Best For Chiles Rellenos?
For these chiles rellenos, we use Oaxaca cheese. It is the most “authentic” cheese for chiles rellenos and in my opinion it has the best texture (AND it just looks cool. Just look at that picture above), but any kind of good “melting” cheese will work great. You can use Queso Blanco, Asadero, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or even Cheddar or Mozzarella. The lines are pretty blurry when it comes to chiles rellenos because it is literally just “stuffed green chile peppers”. Different regions stuff them with different things and even use different green peppers and sauces. Honestly, it all comes down to preference and what is available in your area.
Tips for Making Chiles Rellenos
Remove the seeds to avoid unwanted spiciness/bitterness. Don’t get me wrong, I love spicy, but I don’t enjoy biting into a bitter seed.Use toothpicks to secure the chiles if needed. I have made chiles rellenos several times and I am still not “pro” enough to make them without sealing them up with toothpicks. It will make things easier for you and you won’t have cheese seeping out into your oil.Make sure your oil has come to temperature before adding the chiles rellenos. I actually use my fondue pot to fry because I can easily set the temperature. If you can’t set the temperature, use a cooking thermometer. This ensures perfectly golden chiles rellenos.Roast your veggies before blending them into the sauce to get a deeper, richer flavor.
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