Chili Rellenos

5 Poblano Chili Peppers stacked on a butcher block counter top.

The Best Chili Rellenos

One of my favorite recipes to prepare, serve and eat has got to be stuffed peppers. They come in all shapes and sizes, prepared differently all around the world including Asian, Indian and European cultures. The Germans have great stuffed Bell Pepper recipes and so do the Cajun’s, here in the United States.

I’ve seen and tried recipes stuffed with meats varying from ground pork, veal, beef, lamb, chicken and even shrimp. Also rice, legumes, potatoes and quite often the addition of cheese. One of the most famous stuffed pepper recipes in the world, however, is the Chili Relleno made with Poblano Chili Peppers and, if you don’t know already, it comes from Pueblo Mexico.

2 Roasted Poblano Chili Peppers, sitting on a paper towel with black blistered skins, ready to be peeled.

Why this Recipe intimidates People

Making Chili Rellenos can be quite tedious, especially if you’re making them for the first time it can be difficult and seem intimidating. That’s why I waited so long to share this recipe with you. I spent a lot of time over the years trying to come up with a fool proof method that will make anyone feel comfortable making this dish and it all starts with roasting the Chili’s until the skin blisters up, evenly around the whole body of the pepper.

One roasted and peeled Poblano Chili Pepper, with a table knife, on a white flower printed plate.

Once the Chili Peppers have been roasted they’re placed in a bag or bowl where they can be covered and steamed with their own heat. This helps the flesh of the pepper lift and blister, for easy removal, as the pepper continues to cook and soften a bit more.

After 10 minutes or so, the skin is removed. this can be done by peeling with your fingers, rubbing or pulling with a paper towel but I find that it works best using the small serrated edges of a table knife by gently scraping the scorched skin off. Realize these peppers are getting soft so, if you don’t want to rip and tear your Chili Rellenos before they’re even made, be careful.

Grated Monterey Jack, Colby Jack and Queso Fresca Cheese.

The next step to making perfect Chili Rellenos is creating a small incision down the side of each roasted and skinned Poblano Pepper. You can, at this point, choose to remove the seeds, if you so desire, but it really isn’t necessary. Besides, it’s just another opportunity to rip and tear a perfectly good pepper so, why risk it. Now, just stuff the Pepper with grated Monterey Jack cheese, seal the incision back together, temporarily, with tooth picks and roll each one in flower.

2 stuffed, roasted, skinned Poblano Peppers, sealed with tooth picks and rolled in all purpose flour.

Rolling the Poblanos in flour is a very crucial step. In fact it’s one of the reasons why the skin is removed; it helps the flour stick and adhere to the pepper better which in turn, like most frying, grasps the egg wash batter for deep frying.

What’s the other reason the skin is removed, you say? I believe that it gives the peppers an unpleasing texture like trying to eat the outside layers of a cooked unpeeled onion. I’ve tried it this way before, out of pure laziness, and it left one to be desired so, roast, peel and flour your stuffed Chili Relleno Peppers.

One smothered Chili Rellenos Pepper, with Colby Jack Cheese, Chili Sauce and Pico De Gallo.

My Chili Rellenos

As far as I’m concerned, you can do what ever you want with this dish as far as the filling goes. It doesn’t have to be stuffed with just cheese. You can fill these Poblanos with meat or any of the other ingredients I mentioned above. I’ve seen sautéed onions and mushrooms and even tomatoes on the inside of these peppers with cheese.

According to the history of the original recipe, that dates back to the 1850’s, Nun’s were absolutely stuffing their Chili’s with meat so, go crazy if you want to. In it’s simplest form, however, I cook my Chili Rellenos stuffed with Monterey Jack, then bake under a broiler in a Red Chili Sauce with Colby Jack, then I top it off with cold Pico De Gallo and crumbled Queso Fresca.

YouTube video tutorial on How to make Chili Rellenos by PoorMansGourmet.
Chili Rellenos Ingredients: Makes 8 to 12

Chili Relleno’s Ingredients:

8 to 12 Poblano Chili’s, roasted
1 lbs Monterey Jack Cheese, grated
1 lbs Colby Jack Cheese, grated
1/2 lbs Queso Fresca Cheese, crumbled
2 cups Pico De Gallo
2 cups Red Chili Sauce

6 to 8 eggs
3 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt

Oil for frying

Just follow the instructions in the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make these wonderful Chili Rellenos.

Grilled Tomahawk Ribeye Steak

Tomahawk Steak label with the listed lbs and price next to a picture of a seasoned 3.28 lbs. Tomahawk steak.

The King of Steaks

If you’re a steak lover and you don’t know what a Tomahawk Ribeye Steak is, you’re in for a real treat because this thing is huge. The shape of it is where it gets its name. It literally looks just like an Indian Tomahawk throwing axe, only bigger. I’m talking about a bone in ribeye steak, cut from the center of a Prime Rib Roast, with an average of 3″ inches in thickness and approximately 3 lbs of meat, it feeds up to 4 people with ease.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you a fool proof method to cook this steak perfectly and exactly the way you prefer your steak. If you like your steak medium rare, this method works, if you like your beef well done, this method still works. It’s all about internal temperature and it’s very easy to regulate.

Fully grilled and cooked Tomahawk Ribeye Steak unwrapped in Aluminum foil.

Seasoning and Grilling

In this recipe, I’m breaking down the steps in their easiest form so, when it comes to the rub or the seasoning, I’m keeping it simple. All you need for this Tomahawk Ribeye Steak is a 50/50 ratio of Kosher salt and Black Pepper. I do add in some ground Rosemary but it really isn’t necessary if you want to leave it out. The other addition is just garlic butter that I make my self, on the grill.

Sliced and cut up Grilled Tomahawk Ribeye Steak on a cutting board.

As far as the grilling is concerned, I like to use the slow and low method but I put a good sear on both sides of the steak before I do. If you’re into the whole “Grill Marks” thing, with the diamonds look, I show you how to get those on there even with a mistake. Then, much like smoking ribs or a brisket, I like to wrap the Tomahawk Ribeye Steak(with the garlic butter), put it back on the grill over indirect heat, and cook it slow and low until it reaches my desired internal temperature. I do this by monitoring the heat with a meat thermometer.

Steak Chart for internal temperatures for rare or everything in-between well done steaks.

This method insures that everyone gets to cook their steak to there desired tastes. All you need to know now is the exact temperature your steak needs to reach to be done the way you like it.

My Tomahawk Ribeye Steak Instructions:

3.29 lbs Tomahawk Ribeye Steak
Seasoned with Kosher Salt, Black Pepper and Rosemary

All burners on Medium High Heat, lid down, 475° to 500° F
5 minutes per grill mark, turned once each side
10 minutes per side
20 minutes total then wrapped in Aluminum Foil with
1/2 stick Garlic butter: 1 tbsp Minced Garlic

Internal temp was 106° f

Only Front burner on low, indirect heat, 275° F
Flip half way to 125° F or what ever your goal temperature is, according to the chart.
Then remove from heat and rest 15 minutes. Once it has cooled down, you can cut into your Tomahawk Ribeye Steak and serve and/or eat.

Mean Green Juice

12 oz glass of Mean Green Juice.

The Best Mean Green Juice

There are a ton of variations of this juice recipe but basically, it’s the super green fruits and vegetables that make this such a nutritional and tasty drink. It’s packed with Kale, Cucumber, Celery, Green Apples, Ginger and a squeeze of Lemon. I even like to mix spinach into the ingredients when I have it. This drink is a powerful detox for the body and it aids in weight loss if managed properly. Super foods like the ingredients in this drink are cheap too so, there’s no reason not to give this a try.

Kale, Cucumber, Celery, Green Apples, Lemon and Ginger on a cutting board.

Detox and Weight Loss

I’m no expert and I’ve only began to scrape the surface of juicing but I’ve personally been incorporating into my diet for almost 10 months now. I have a celery juice every single morning to start, which aids the liver. According to those flat belly experts, it’s impossible to have a healthy liver and be over weight so I’ve been cleaning that bad boy up.

As far as the Mean Green Juice goes, Kale contains fiber, antioxidants, calcium, vitamins C and K, iron, and a wide range of other nutrients.

Cucumber hydrates the body and contains potassium and magnesium to support fluid balance. I recently passed my first, hopefully my last, Kidney stone and hydration was one of the key ingredients to move that along. Cucumber may also clear up your skin, reduce your blood pressure and I’ve heard it even helps to break up Gout.

Green Apples contain pectin, which is a fiber source that works as a prebiotic to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut to help digestion. I’ve also heard that one apple is the equivalent of one cup of coffee, only better for you.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities. It also has a ton of other benefits that include easing digestion, calming nausea or motion sickness and aids the immune system to fight colds and congestion.

Lemon can ease a sore throat, help blood sugar, prevent kidney stones, it has cancer fighting benefits, aids weight loss and, once again, aids in digestion and clears up skin.

Juicer with a 24 oz measuring cup full of Mean Green Juice and a container full of pulp.

Juicer vs Blender

There are a ton of nutrients that get wasted juicing but some people just can’t stomach all that fiber from a blender so, it’s going to be up to you and your personal preference, which one you choose to use. If you don’t have a juicer and you only have a blender but don’t want the pulp, you can poor the juice through a mesh strainer and mash the pulp with a spatula.

Mean Green Juice video tutorial by PoorMansGourmet.
Mean Green Juice Ingredients:

3 Celery Ribs
6 Kale Leaves
1 Cucumber
2 Green Apple
1 Lemon,
1 tbsp Ginger, approximately 1″ inch

Watch the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make this Mean Green Juice. Also, I like to refrigerate this juice for a couple of hours first, then give it a good stir before I drink it. It just tastes better that way, to me.