Chile relleno facts for kids
Chiles rellenos
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| Course | Entrée |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Poblano pepper, egg, cheese |
| Variations | New Mexico chile, pasilla, meat |
The chile relleno is a popular dish from Mexican cuisine. Its name means "stuffed chili pepper." This tasty meal first came from the city of Puebla in Mexico. In 1858, it was described as a green chili pepper filled with minced meat and covered in eggs.
The most common pepper used is the poblano pepper from Puebla. Other popular peppers include the New Mexico chile, pasilla, or even jalapeño peppers.
Contents
What's Inside a Chile Relleno?
Chile rellenos are usually filled with melted cheese. Popular choices are queso Chihuahua or queso Oaxaca. Sometimes, they are stuffed with picadillo meat. This meat is often diced pork mixed with raisins and nuts. It is seasoned with canella, which is cinnamon.
After being stuffed, the pepper is covered. It can be dipped in an egg white batter. Sometimes, it's coated simply with corn masa flour. Other times, it has no batter at all. Then, the pepper is fried. While it's often served with a tomato sauce, different sauces can be used.
Where is Chile Relleno Eaten?
In Mexico
In Mexico, some versions of chile relleno use dried chiles. These chiles, like anchos or pasillas, are soaked in water to make them soft again. This gives them a unique flavor.
In the United States
In the United States, chile rellenos are often filled with asadero or Monterey Jack cheese. You might also find them with cheddar or other cheeses. Ground or minced meat fillings are also common. The chile is usually dipped in an egg white batter. It can then be pan-fried or deep-fried until golden.
Chile rellenos are very popular in New Mexico. People there love the Hatch chile. This chile is special because it's long and slender, not round. It also has a medium to hot spicy flavor. In the U.S., rellenos are often served with red or green chile sauce. Sometimes, they come with mole sauce.
There are many fun variations of chile relleno. These depend on local tastes or new ideas. Some examples include:
- Pecan-encrusted chiles
- Chiles filled with crab meat
- A "chile relleno burrito"
- A casserole form, which is great for serving many people
In Guatemala
In Guatemala, a different pepper is used. The pimiento pepper is stuffed with shredded pork and vegetables. Just like the Mexican version, it is covered with egg batter and fried. It can be served with tomato sauce. Sometimes, it's even put inside a bread bun.
Gallery
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Jalapeño "poppers", another form of chiles rellenos
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A Mexican-American variation which has chiles stuffed with monterey jack cheese and an egg batter, baked in a casserole dish
See also
In Spanish: Chile relleno para niños
