Recipe of the Week: Chiles Rellenos with Goat Cheese

I know, I know, I've been on a major Mexican/Southwest/TexMex food kick lately, but bear with me - it seems like the perfect kind of cuisine for this time of year. Back in the days before we were diagnosed with Celiac and forced to adopt a gluten free diet, chiles rellenos was one of my favorite restaurant meals, but I never tried to make it at home. Now that dining out is significantly more difficult than cooking at home, this seemed like the perfect recipe to try

Chiles Rellenos with Goat Cheese

Ingredients
8 poblano peppers
1/2 pound mild goat cheese, at room temperature
1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
1 Tablespoon cilantro, minced
1 Tablespoon almonds, chopped & toasted
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup Jules Gluten Free flour
3 large eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
Place peppers on a baking sheet and set oven on broil. Broil peppers until skins char. Turn peppers until skins are blackened all over.

Remove peppers to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap for 15 minutes. Remove charred skins and make a slit in each pepper leaving stems in tact. Carefully remove and discard seeds.

In a bowl, mix together goat cheese, jack cheese, parsley, cilantro, almonds, garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Divide mixture into 8 equal portions and stuff into peppers.

Heat about 3/4" of oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat until temperature reaches about 375 degrees F.

Place flour on a plate and set aside.

Using an electric mixer beat egg whites and salt until they hold stiff peaks. Add 1 tablespoon flour and yolks, one at a time, beating in between each egg yolk.

Dip each stuffed peppers into flour and then into egg batter and then into hot oil. When they are golden turn them over and fry on other side. Remove to a paper towel with a slotted spoon. Cook them in batches so you don't overcrowd pan. Keep them warm as they are cooked by placing them in a 200 degree F. oven.

Top with pico de gallo salsa* and serve immediately.

For the Pico de Gallo
1/2 small white or red onion or 8 slender scallions finely chopped, rinsed, and drained
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded, if desired, and finely diced
1/4-1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (leaves and tender stems)
1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
1 medium garlic clove minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Combine all ingredients.

Photo by mkorcuska on Flickr