Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Chicken Stuffed Pasilla Peppers

I had pasilla peppers in the refrigerator that needed to be used up. I decided to stuff the pasilla peppers with leftover chicken mixed with roasted bell pepper, jalapeno and green onion. I topped the chicken stuffed peppers with a bit of cilantro and lime sour cream and cheddar cheese. They were rich and delicious. The chicken was really flavorful, the sour cream sauce made it moist and tangy while the roasted pasilla pepper was smoky and delicious. Our friends who were over for dinner really enjoyed them and so did I. My husband liked it but requested no sour cream sauce the next time I make it (he's not a fan of sour cream). It was a fun recipe to make but it has several steps so I tried to break it down a bit. These peppers were served with my fresh guacamole and homemade salsa. The stuffed pepper paired nicely with a Southwestern Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. A really delicious meal with great friends. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Roasted Vegetables:

  • 4-5 baby red and orange bell pepper, cored, seeded and flattened
  • 1 jalapeno, cored, seeded and flattened
  • 2 green onions

Position the oven rack close to the broiler and heat the broiler. Cover a baking sheet with tin foil (for easier clean up). Put the cored, seeded and flattened peppers skin side up on a baking sheet along with the green onion.

Broil until peppers are blackened (make sure to watch the green onions so they don't burn, remove from the oven when they are soft). Transfer the peppers to a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let cool for 10 minutes. Dice the green onions into small pieces. Once the peppers are cool enough to handle, carefully remove the blackened skin and chop them finely into pieces.

Cilantro Lime Sour Cream Sauce:

  • 1 cup of sour cream (I use fat free)
  • 1-2 tbsp sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped (chop some extra for garnish)
  • Juice of one lime
  • Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, onion, cilantro and lime juice then mix thoroughly. Cover and place in the refrigerator until you need it.

Shredded Chicken:

  • 3 cups of leftover roasted chicken meat, shredded
  • Diced roasted peppers and green onions
  • 1 tbsp sweet yellow onion, chopped finely
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Combine the chicken, roasted vegetables, onion, olive oil, minced garlic, lime juice, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

Remaining Ingredients:

  • 4 pasilla peppers
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Cilantro Lime Sour Cream Sauce
  • Salsa
  • Guacamole

Place the whole pasilla peppers on the same tin foil covered baking sheet. Broil until peppers are blackened. Transfer the peppers to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let cool for 10 minutes. Once the peppers are cool enough to handle, remove the blackened skin very carefully; gently make a slit from the stem down the center to remove the seeds.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a glass Pyrex dish with olive oil cooking spray. Place the roasted peppers in the dish.

Carefully stuff each pepper with the chicken mixture. Spread a dollop of cilantro lime sour cream sauce over the chicken then top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Place in the oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until the chicken is warmed through and the cheese is melted. Serve with guacamole and fresh salsa. Enjoy.

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