The poblano chile is a star in Mexican kitchens. It is used in a wide range of ways and in a wide range of dishes. Some well known examples are chiles en nogada, rajas, pickled, and stuffed with meat or cheese and bathed in a tomato sauce. But there are hundreds of other ways…
Aside from being absolutely gorgeous – chubby, curvy, large, sensuous and with a beautiful dark green color with a bit of a shine to it – it has a striking flavor that is rich, exuberant and fruity. It tends to be a bit capricious as well: it ranges from the very mild to the very hot. However, there are ways to tame its heat.
It is rarely used or cooked in its raw form. Unlike other ingredients, the poblano has to go through a couple of steps to bring out the finest qualities of its flavor, color and texture. It may seem daunting at first, but once you prepare them a couple of times, the process becomes very simple. It is just like preparing roasted red bell peppers.
Comments
20comments inPoblano Chile or Pepper
Koakley
Mar 22
Hello Pati…I hope all is well. I was watching an episode of, I believe, “Mexican Table”. You prepared a dish with pablanos stuffed with collard greens. I have been unsuccessful locating this recipe on this site. Am I mistaken or do you have a recipe for this dish. If so, will you please provide a link to it. BTW, I recently got you cookbook, Mexican Table. I saw the episode with the pepper and was inspired by it and so many of your dishes. Thank you, koakley
Pati Jinich
Mar 31
Hola Koakley, so happy to hear you want to make chiles rellenos! Find here a collection of recipes I have for these amazing chiles! https://patijinich.com/collection/recipes-with-poblanos/
Lorea Fox
Jan 06
Hi pati,
You did a poblano chile dish with onions, garlic, sugar, rice vinager, and white vinager but i missed the rest
Do you have a recipe for that you put it ona tuna melt.
Lorea
Pati
Jan 08
Oh here you go Lorea: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/recipe/pickled-poblanos/
Pati Jinich » Squash Blossoms
Dec 28
[…] the green sepals. Squash blossoms tend to be paired with one or another fresh Chile, typically the Poblanos, and many times […]
Pati Jinich » Mulato Chile
Dec 28
[…] Ancho chile comes from the dried regular Poblano chile. The Mulato chile comes from a variation of the Chile Poblano that has slightly different genes […]
JoAnn
Oct 25
I recently was given 7 pablano chiles and would really like to make chili rellenos w/them. Would u plz give me your recipe? Thank u so much in advance. I love your show!
Pati
Oct 27
Here is the recipe: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2015/04/chiles-rellenos/ Let me know how they turn out!
Mari & Daniel
Aug 30
Hola Pati,
We have tried several of your recipes: Que Bueno!
We have tried some of your recipes that call for Poblano chiles. When we go to our Mexican grocers in Fresno, CA, they don’t have Poblano chiles. They carry a fresh green chile that looks like the Poblano chile shown on your show/website under the name Pasilla chile.
After much research, including talking with our Mexican Grocer’s Produce Manager’s Mexican wife, we have come to the conclusion that the fresh Pasilla chile sold in Central California is probably the Poblano chile referenced in your recipes.
It would be a shame to find out our favorite Patti recipes could taste even better if not for confusing the fresh large green chile sold as Pasilla in our area with a true Poblano chile referenced in your shows.
We would like to believe we are experiencing the full flavor of your dishes as intended.
Can you give us a little more input on this dilemma?
Keep on cookin’
Mari & Daniel
Pati
Sep 07
Hi Mari and Daniel,
Unfortunately, the same chiles go by different names regionally, both in Mexico and the US. It sounds to me like you have found your poblano chiles, they should be dark green, curvy and chubby. If they are too long or thin, then they aren’t Poblanos…
Brent
May 25
Hello Pati,
Is there a good alternate pepper if you cannot find pablano’s?
We so enjoy your show.
Pati
May 26
Hola Brent, There’s really no substitute for the poblano chile. But, in a pinch, depending on what you’re making, you could try the Anaheim chile in its place…though it will be a different flavor than the poblano.
Meemer
May 24
Hola Pati,
Sure would like to find your pickled pepper recipe. Could you point me in the right direction.
Danke Schoen.
Pati
May 26
Here you go http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2014/01/grilled-romain-and-red-bell-peppers-with-ancho-chile-vinaigrette-and-cheese/
Sabas
Sep 17
hi pati,
my question is, do you have a rajas recipe, or maybe a new spin on them, i have made them before, like my mother used to make. We ate them as our main course dinner, but i would like your opinion on ideas for additions to the meal themselves like a meat or a starch.
thank you.
Pati
Sep 17
Hola Sabas, I make rajas with my Tampico-style steak, which includes them in the recipe: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2012/08/tampico-style_steak_combo/
Camila
Apr 16
Hello, Pati
I watch your show quite often and it remindes me of when I was a child with all the dishes you make that are great Mexican traditions.
I am in love with chili rellenos! But for some reason I can’t get the batter quite right. Can you help me?
Pati
Apr 18
Hola Camila, Of course!! When you make the chile rellenos batter: separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until stiff, then gently fold in the yolks. Before you place the chiles in the batter, dust them with a little all purpose flour so the batter sticks.
Jeff Glassburn
Dec 16
Hello Pati,
Viewed your show on TV and really enjoyed the show.
I have a question about the main dish you presented.
Chicken with garlic,onions,poblano peppers, sunflower and pumkin seeds. When you added the poblano peppers to the chicken did you cook them before added them to the top of the chicken?
Jeff
Pati Jinich
Dec 19
Hi Jeff, Thank you for watching the show! I charred, sweated and peeled the poblanos before adding them to the chicken. If you’d like, I have a detailed description of the process here: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2009/04/preparing-poblano-peppers.html. I hope you will have a chance to try this recipe…