Stuffed Chilies With Cactus Food

CHILES EN NOGADA (MEXICAN STUFFED POBLANO PEPPERS IN WALNUT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Roast poblano chiles over an open flame on a gas stove or grill until the skin is black and charred on all sides, turning often, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Place the charred chiles in a plastic bag or in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then open and peel off the skin. Cut a slit in each chile lengthwise and remove the seeds.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add ground pork and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon while cooking, about 7 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, plantain, apple, peach, parsley, candied orange peel, pine nuts, raisins, almonds, cloves, salt, and pepper. Simmer until filling is cooked through and flavors are well combined, about 10 minutes.
• Combine walnuts, milk, goat cheese, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a blender; blend until walnut sauce is smooth and creamy.
• Fill each poblano chile with the pork filling and place on a plate. Spoon walnut sauce over chile and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

BAKED CORN STUFFED CHILES RELLENOS

Steps:

• ADVANCE prep of the corn and peppers:.
• Preheat grill or broiler to high heat.
• Spray corn with nonstick spray and season to taste with salt and pepper; grill corn (or broil 4" from heat), turning every 2-3 minutes, for 12 minutes or until all kernels are browned.
• Let corn cool and when cool enough to handle, cut off kernels (you will need about 1 1/2 cups).
• Roast the chiles either on the grill or in the broiler, turning every 3 minutes (12 minutes total) or until all the skin is charred.
• Immediately pop the peppers into a large, clean paper bag and roll top to seal.
• Let bag sit 15 minutes- when you open the bag, the skins should have loosened up.
• Let peppers cool down enough to handle and peel off charred skins (while wearing plastic gloves to protect your hands).
• (All of the steps up to this point can be done in advance if needed).
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Set aside 6 of the peppers whole, then cut up the remaining 2 peppers, seeding them and cutting them into 1/4" pieces.
• Mix the 2 chopped peppers with the roasted corn.
• Get your bowl or roasted corn kernels and chopped peppers and mix in cheese, scallions, garlic,cilantro,and currants.
• Taste the mixture and add more salt and pepper if needed-it should be highly seasoned.
• Get your reserved 6 whole roasted and skinned chilies and cut a 2" long slit lengthwise making a chilie pouch.
• Scoop out the core and seeds (try not to tear the skin of the pepper), leaving the stem intact.
• Stuff each pepper with the corn mixture.
• Set flour in a shallow bowl, egg in another, cornmeal in a third bowl.
• Dip each chilie into the flour, then the egg, then the cornmeal and set on a nonstick baking sheet (or a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed lightly with nonstick spray).
• Spray the tops of the stuffed chilies well with nonstick spray.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and the filling is hot.
• Suggested garnishes: Fresh cilantro leaves, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream if desired.

CHILLI-STUFFED PEPPERS WITH FETA TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Place the pepper halves in a shallow baking dish, skin-side up, and roast for 15-20 mins.
• Meanwhile, tip the spices into a pan and warm briefly to release their flavour. Tip in the tomatoes and stir in the onion, garlic, chilli, aubergine and kidney beans with their juice. Cover the pan and cook for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Try not to add any extra liquid; the mixture should be quite dry. Stir in the coriander.
• Meanwhile, beat the egg with the feta and fromage frais. Turn the peppers over and pile the aubergine mixture into each one, packing it down as much as you can. Top with the feta mixture and return to the oven for 10 mins more until the topping has lightly set. Don't worry if some of it flows off, as it will just set in the dish. Serve the peppers on the rocket with lime wedges for squeezing over.