If you enjoy flavorful food, you'll love the extra layer of complexity that poblano chilies can give your recipes. These rather mild, sweet tasting peppers can be found at most supermarkets in the produce section. When selecting them, look for ones with richly colored, green shiny exteriors for the best taste. Many people avoid buying these tasty peppers because they don't know how to use them. Here are some ideas on how to use poblano chilies to add more flavor to your recipes:
Roast Them
The flavor of poblano chiles are enhanced by the roasting process. The simplest way to roast them is to lay them on a metal, foiled baking sheet and place them under the broiler. Turn them several times during the roasting process. Once they're roasted, place them in a plastic bag to cool. This will help to loosen the outer skin of the peppers and allow them to be pulled off with your hands. Discard the outer skin, seed, and stems.
Soups and Stews
Once you've roasted the chiles, you can use them to flavor a variety of soups and stews. Poblanos can really bring out the flavor in an otherwise bland soup or stew. That additional flavor punch can take an ordinary soup from acceptable to fantastic.
Use Them in a Mexican-Style Salad
Salads are healthy but if you're bored with your standard salad, build a salad with a Mexican flair. Try creating a salad with a romaine lettuce base topped with sliced, roasted pablanos, black beans, grilled corn, and sweet red onions. Top with chipotle dressing for a welcome break from your conventional, uninspiring salad routine.
Serve Them as Hors d'Oeuvres
Stuff roasted poblanos with a shredded cheddar cheese and onion filling or make a filling out of cream cheese and herbs to create tasty hors d'oeuvres for your next party. You can also stuff them with a meat and rice mixture. The possibilities for stuffing these tasty peppers are endless. Use your imagination!
Add Them to a Sandwich
Discover the joys of a grilled panini sandwich with melted cheese and roasted poblano peppers. Add a layer of chipotle mayonnaise to the bread to add an extra layer of flavor and complexity. You can also use poblano peppers in Mexican wraps and quesadillas.
Spice Them Up
The flavor of poblano peppers can be enhanced by certain herbs and spices including chives, thyme, cumin, oregano, garlic, and basil. Experiment with these spices using poblanos in your recipes and discover some unique flavor combinations.
As you can see, poblano peppers can add new versatility and flavor to your dishes. Why not add them to your kitchen creations?
