Authentic Chiles Rellenos Recipe [Step-by-Step] (2024)

Pork Stuffed Poblano Chiles

Chiles Rellenos are one of the best known and loved Mexican foods. Chile relleno translates as “stuffed chile.” If you have never had them,they are Poblano chiles that are stuffed with pork, beef or cheese and then are battered and fried and servedcovered in salsa roja. Heaven on a plate. Don’t you agree?

Visual Recipe for Authentic Chiles Rellenos

Follow the visual guide to prepare authentic chiles rellenos. The full printable recipe is at the end of the guide. Let’s get cooking!

How to Make Chiles Rellenos

Don’t be intimidated by this recipe. It does take some effort to prepare, which is well worth it, but anyone can do it. If you follow the guide carefully you will have prepared some amazing traditional chiles rellenos.

To make chiles rellenos start by gathering all of your ingredients. The recipe has many ingredients and it is good to collect them all to ensure that you haven’t forgotten any. You don’t want to get halfway through preparation and then have to make a run to the supermarket. This reminder comes from hard-earned experience. :)

Ingredients:

• 6large Poblano chiles
• 2poundspork loin roast
• 1cuppork broth
• 2lbsRoma tomatoes
• 2white onions
• 4garlic cloves
• 3large eggs
• ¼cupchopped raisins
• ¼cupcoarsely chopped walnuts
• ½cupchopped parsley
• ½cupflour
• 1teaspoonground cinnamon
• ¼teaspoonground clove
• 2tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
• 4cupscooking oil

First, Prepare the Poblano Chiles

The recipe calls for Poblano chiles which must be cleanedbefore using. If you are not sure how to clean chiles, see our guide to roasting and peeling Poblano chiles.

Fresh Poblano Chiles

Poblanos are flavorful and only mildly hot and hold up well to stuffing. They are the traditional chile for making chiles rellenos.

How to Make the Pork Filling

The pork filling for this recipe is adapted from a recipe in Diana Kennedy’s cookbook, The Art of Mexican Cooking.

If this cookbook is not in your collection consider buying it. It’s a great resource for anyone who loves Mexican cooking. I was lucky enough to have Diana sign my copy at a book signing in San Miguel de Allende.

Prepare the Pork for the Filling

Loin roast is a good cut for this dish. Clean any tough membrane from the pork and then cut into 1″ to 1 ½″ cubes.

You cube the pork so it cooks evenly. 1″ to 1 ½″ cubes are fine. You don’t have to be too precise because you will shred and chop the meat after it is cooked.

Put the pork into a pot with ¼ of a white onion and just cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 35 minutes. Skim any scum that rises to the top.

Once the pork is cooked remove it from the pot and simmer the broth until it has reduced to about 1 cup of liquid. Reducing the broth concentrates the pork flavor. It will take about 10 minutes to reduce.

You are ready to prep the filling.

With your fingers break apart the pork into smaller pieces.

Use a knife to chop the pork into fine pieces. Try to cut meat into evenly sized pieces.

Prepare the Salsa

You will make two batches of this salsa to make the chiles rellenos. One batch is used to prepare the pork filling and the other batch is used when you serve the chiles rellenos.

Put the salsa roja ingredients into your blender. Add about ¼ cup of water which is just enough to help the salsa fully blend without making it watery.

Blend the salsa for about 1 minute. It should still have a bit of texture but it shouldn’t be chunky. Don’t be put off by the pale pink color of the salsa. It takes on a beautiful red color when fully cooked.

Frying the salsa in hot oil helps develop a rich flavor. To fry it, slowly pour it into the hot oil. Be careful because it tends to spatter.

Simmer the salsa roja for about 10 minutes until it has thickened. As promised the salsa has turned a beautiful deep red color and the flavor has intensified.

Prepare Filling

Then add the rest of the filling ingredients including 1 cup of pork broth and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.

Cook the filling over low heat for about 20 minutes until most, but not all of the liquid has evaporated. You want the filling to remain moist but it shouldn’t be dripping liquid when you fill the chiles.

Stuff and Close the Chiles

Stuff each chile with the pork filling. Do not overstuff the chiles because you won’t be able to close them with a toothpick and the filling will spill out. More isn’t always better. You want to maintain a balance between all of the ingredients.

Prepare the Batter

Traditional chiles rellenos are battered in a light egg batter. Follow these steps to make a perfect batter.

Carefully separate the egg whites. If you get some yolk in the whites before they are whipped the batter won’t expand and become fluffy.

Try not to break the yolks because you add them one at a time to the whipped whites.

Start by pouring the egg whites into a large mixing bowl.

Whip the egg whites with an electric hand mixer set on high.

It takes a few minutes of whipping for the egg whites to expand and become fluffy. When the egg whites have expanded greatly and the mixture starts to form peaks when you remove the beaters it is ready for the next step.

Gently slide the yolks into the whipped egg whites one at a time. Add one and when it is fully incorporated add the next one until they are all incorporated.

When the batter is smooth light and fluffy and coats the back of a wooden spoon without dripping it is ready to use. If it separates while you are in the process of battering and frying the chiles just whip it with your electric mixer for a few seconds to incorporate again.

Batter the Chiles

Once the chiles are stuffed, it’s time to batter them in theegg batter.

Dust all sides of the chile with flour whichhelps the egg batter stick to the chile.

Very gently dip the floured chile into the egg batter. Be sure to cover all of the chile in batter.

Very gently slide one of the stuffed chiles into your frying pan.Be very careful to not knock the batter off the chile.

When the bottom part of the chile has turned a golden color, use two spatulas to carefully turn the chile over. Be very careful to not knock the batter off the chile.

This chile is ready to be removed from the oil. The coating has turned a beautiful golden brown.

Drain the chiles on a plate covered with paper towels for a couple of minutes to remove excess oil.

Serve the Chiles Rellenos

Now comes the best part, serving and eating the chiles rellenos. To serve, spoon somesalsa roja onto a plate place the chile in the middle of the salsa and then spoon a bit more salsa over the chile. It is ready to serve. Chiles rellenos are served warm not piping hot.

Doesn’t it look great?

Provecho!

Other Recipes with Poblano Chiles

• Rajas con Queso
• Chiles en Nogada

More Pork Recipes

• Pork Ribs in Salsa Roja
• Pork Chops in Salsa Verde
• Red Pork Pozole
• Pork Leg Torta