Chiles Rellenos de San Joaquin

This is my adaptation of a chiles rellenos potluck recipe a friend described to me--so far everyone loves it. It can take some time to make, but it's worth it! Cotija cheese is a salty, hard cheese available in the Hispanic section of many grocery stores. It is similar to feta which could be used as a substitute in this recipe. But cotija is getting easier to find and makes this recipe more authentic!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Calories: 417 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
• 10 poblano peppers, halved lengthwise, stems and seeds removed
• 12 ounces cotija cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Adjust oven rack to its topmost position and set oven to broil.

Step 2

Place chiles skin side up on a baking sheet, and broil until skins blister, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to let them burn. Remove chiles from the oven and place in a glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let chiles steam until cool. Remove and discard the skins.

Step 3

Preheat oven to bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 4

Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Stir in sliced onions, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until onions and tomatoes achieve a sauce-like consistency, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Season with cumin, stir briefly, then stir in the sour cream; remove from heat.

Step 5

To assemble the chiles rellenos: Slice cheese into 20 long rectangles (or sticks) 1/4-inch thick and approximately as long as the chiles. Roll each cheese rectangle into a chile half. Place rolled chiles into a baking dish and top with the tomato sauce. Crumble any extra cheese on top of the sauce. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the sauce is bubbly.