Classic Chiles Rellenos Recipe
Prep Time:
20 minutes
Cook Time:
30 minutes
Servings:
4 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 guajillo chiles, stemmed and deseeded
  • 3 Roma tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 4 large poblano peppers
  • 12 ounces Oaxaca cheese, sliced
  • 2 cups canola oil, for frying
  • 3 eggs, whites and yolks separated
  • ½ cup flour
Directions
  1. To make the guajillo chile sauce, add guajillo chiles to a saucepan and cover with water.
  2. Boil chiles until soft, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add boiled guajillo chiles, tomatoes, garlic, onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ cup of the water used for boiling to a blender.
  4. Blend until smooth, then set the sauce aside.
  5. Heat the broiler to high and arrange a rack 5 inches beneath the broiler.
  6. Slice a small T-shaped slit in each poblano pepper and remove as many seeds and ribs as possible.
  7. Place the peppers on a foil-lined sheet tray.
  8. Broil for 4-5 minutes, then flip and broil again for 4-5 more minutes until slightly charred.
  9. Transfer the peppers to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to steam.
  10. After 5 minutes, remove the plastic and scrape away as much of the skin as possible.
  11. Add oil to a deep cast iron skillet over medium heat.
  12. While the oil is heating up, make the batter. In a large bowl, whip the egg whites until light and fluffy.
  13. While whipping, add the yolks one at a time, incorporating until smooth.
  14. Combine the flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a shallow bowl.
  15. Stuff the poblano peppers with cheese using the small slit made in step 6.
  16. Seal the peppers closed using toothpicks.
  17. Roll the peppers in the flour-salt mixture, coating completely.
  18. Dredge the flour-coated peppers in the egg batter, coating completely.
  19. Add the peppers to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, patching any bare spots with more batter.
  20. Transfer the fried chiles rellenos to a paper-towel lined tray to drain.
  21. To serve, add the guajillo sauce to a shallow bowl and nestle the fried chiles rellenos into the sauce.