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18 Steps

Chiles en Nogada, 48 stuffed chiles

  1. Walnuts · Step 1 of 2

    A few days ahead, rub or pick the thin brown skins off the 1190 g walnut halves, preferably fresh. It is slow work; fresh walnuts peel most easily.

    the nuts are ivory white all over

  2. Walnuts · Step 2 of 2

    Put the peeled walnuts in a container, cover with milk, to cover the walnuts and refrigerate until you make the sauce.

    4 °C

  3. Picadillo Filling · Step 1 of 5

    Cook the ≈ 165 g white onions, 1360 g ground pork and 1360 g ground beef in the ≈ 215 g vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, breaking up the meat, until cooked through.

    no pink left in the meat

  4. Picadillo Filling · Step 2 of 5

    Pound the ≈ 4.5 g cinnamon stick, about 1 1/2 inches, ≈ 9 g garlic and 1.5 g whole cloves to a paste in a mortar. Stir in a little water, for the spice paste, pass it through a sieve into the meat and stir.

    the kitchen fills with the smell of cinnamon and clove

  5. Picadillo Filling · Step 3 of 5

    Add the ≈ 1090 g tomatoes, ≈ 325 g raisins, ≈ 320 g blanched almonds and ≈ 305 g pine nuts. Simmer for about 20 min, stirring now and then, and season with salt.

    the tomato juices have cooked down and the mixture is moist but not wet

  6. Picadillo Filling · Step 4 of 5

    Stir in the drained ≈ 1090 g apples and ≈ 1070 g pears with the ≈ 900 g peaches and ≈ 810 g ripe plantains, mix well and cook for only 2 min to 3 min. Take the pan off the heat straight away so the fruit holds its shape.

    fruit warmed through but still in distinct cubes

  7. Picadillo Filling · Step 5 of 5

    Cover with a clean kitchen towel, not a lid, and let the filling cool.

  8. Poblano Chiles · Step 1 of 4

    Roast the ≈ 4080 to 4590 g fresh poblano chiles directly over a high gas flame, turning, until the skins blister and blacken all over. Wrap them in a damp cloth to steam for a few minutes.

    skin charred and loose all over

    the flesh still firm enough to hold a filling

  9. Poblano Chiles · Step 2 of 4

    Rub off the skins, cut a lengthwise slit in each chile and carefully pull out the seeds and veins, keeping the stem on.

  10. Poblano Chiles · Step 3 of 4

    Soak the chiles in water seasoned with white vinegar, for soaking and salt, for soaking for 15 min, then pat dry with paper towels.

  11. Poblano Chiles · Step 4 of 4

    Spoon the cooled filling into each chile without overstuffing, so the slit still closes over it.

  12. Batter and Frying · Step 1 of 5

    Pour vegetable oil, for frying into a large frying pan to a depth of about 1.5 cm (⅝ in) and heat it.

    a drop of batter sizzles and rises at once

  13. Batter and Frying · Step 2 of 5

    Whip the egg whites from the ≈ 1800 g eggs, separated to stiff peaks, then beat in the yolks one at a time and season with salt.

    a thick, fluffy, pale yellow batter

  14. Batter and Frying · Step 3 of 5

    Roll each stuffed chile lightly in the ≈ 375 g all purpose flour, holding it closed, then dip it in the batter until fully coated.

  15. Batter and Frying · Step 4 of 5

    Fry a few chiles at a time, without crowding, turning once, until deep golden on both sides. A spatula helps to tip each chile against the side of the pan to cook the edges.

    deep golden all over

  16. Batter and Frying · Step 5 of 5

    Drain on paper towels, changing the paper a few times to soak up as much oil as possible.

  17. Nogada and Assembly · Step 1 of 2

    Drain the walnuts and put them in a blender with the 595 g fresh goat cheese, ≈ 37 g sugar, ≈ 730 g milk, 3 pinches ground cinnamon and ≈ 175 g sweet sherry. Blend until smooth and creamy.

    thick, white and pourable, like heavy cream

  18. Nogada and Assembly · Step 2 of 2

    Arrange the chiles on a platter, cover them with the nogada and scatter over the ≈ 1690 g pomegranates, seeds only and flat leaf parsley sprigs. Serve at room temperature or just warm.