This Global Twist on Stuffed Peppers is a Crowd-Pleaser

As a kid, stuffed peppers were my favorite meal, each pepper a whimsical meal in itself. I drew on that association while developing a recipe for Chiles en Nogada in our newly released book “Chile, Clove, and Cardamom: A Gastronomic Journey Into the Fragrances and Flavors of Desert Cuisines,” co-authored with renowned ethnobotanist and writer Gary Paul Nabhan.

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This Mexican specialty of roasted poblano chiles, stuffed with spiced ground meat and garnished with walnut cream and pomegranate seeds, is traditionally served in September to celebrate Independence Day. It’s a colorful representation of the Mexican flag — green, white, and red.

The recipe is relatively easy, but it does take time. I confess, that like my mom I’ve dared to take a few shortcuts to make it more accessible for a busy home cook. The resulting recipe is simple and flexible, but reflects the same flavors and presentation. Choose any ground meat you’d like, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, or a mix; use any pepper you’d like, and vary the spices to suit your taste.

Stuffed Mexican Peppers in Yogurt Walnut Sauce

Serves 4 to 8.

Chiles en Nogadas is Mexico’s national dish for good reason! Showcasing the nation’s flag colors (green, white, and red), it was created in 1821 to recognize Mexico’s independence from Spain. We opted to roast instead of frying the peppers before filling them, and then held them in a warm oven until ready to serve. From “Chile, Clove, and Cardamom: A Gastronomic Journey Into the Fragrances and Flavors of Desert Cuisines,” by Beth Dooley and Gary Paul Nabhan (Chelsea Green, $34.95). Available now in bookstores and online.

• 8 large poblano chiles

For the stuffing:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. ground dark meat chicken or turkey
• 1 medium white onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 c. chopped tart apple
• ½ c. dried raisins, plumped in hot water to cover
• 1 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped, or 1 tsp. dried
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground clove
• ¼ c. dry sherry, optional
• 1 (14-oz.) can fire-roasted tomatoes with juices
• ¼ c. chopped pistachios
• ¼ c. chopped pitted green olives
• ¼ c. chopped parsley
• 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the walnut sauce:

• ½ c. raw whole walnuts
• 1 c. Mexican Crema, sour cream or plain whole Greek-style yogurt
• ¼ c. crumbled queso fresco
• 1 c. pomegranate seeds, for garnish
• ½ c. coarsely chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions

To prepare the peppers: Preheat the broiler to high. Put the peppers on a baking sheet and broil until the skins are blackened, rolling several times, about 10 minutes total. Remove, cover with a clean dish towel to steam until cool. Rub the skin from the peppers (don’t worry if all of it doesn’t come off). Cut a horizontal slit down the middle and remove and discard the ribs and seeds.

To make the stuffing: Film a large skillet with the oil and spread the ground meat out in an even layer. Cook, undisturbed, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue cooking, breaking up the meat with the back of a spoon and scraping up any browned bits until the meat is lightly browned. Stir in the onion and garlic, and continue cooking until the onion is tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the apples, raisins with their juices, oregano, cinnamon, clove, sherry, and tomatoes, and stir, scraping up any brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Simmer until the liquid is reduced and the stuffing is firm. Stir in the pistachios, olives, parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

To fill the peppers: Reduce the oven to 200 degrees. Place the peppers cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet and fill each with equal amounts of the stuffing, pressing the filling into the peppers, but not so much they burst. Place in the oven to hold until ready to serve.

To make the sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine the walnuts, yogurt, and cheese and process until smooth but still a bit chunky.

Serve the peppers drizzled with the sauce and garnished with the pomegranate seeds and parsley.

Conclusion

This recipe is a twist on the traditional Mexican dish, but it’s still packed with flavor and color. The combination of roasted poblano peppers, spiced ground meat, and walnut cream is a winning combination. You can adjust the spices and ingredients to suit your taste, and it’s perfect for a dinner party or a cozy night in.

FAQs

• What is Chiles en Nogada?

Chiles en Nogada is a traditional Mexican dish that originated in the 19th century. It is a stuffed pepper dish filled with a mixture of meats, fruits, and spices, and is typically served on Mexico’s Independence Day.

• What are the key ingredients in this recipe?

The key ingredients in this recipe are the roasted poblano peppers, the spiced ground meat filling, and the walnut cream sauce.

• Can I adjust the spices and ingredients to suit my taste?

Yes, you can adjust the spices and ingredients to suit your taste. For example, you can use different types of meat, add or subtract spices, or use different types of cheese.

• How do I serve the peppers?

Serve the peppers drizzled with the walnut cream sauce and garnished with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

Note: The original article had some HTML tags and formatting that I couldn’t replicate exactly, so I had to make some adjustments to the content to maintain its structure and flow.