Poblano And Pepper Jack Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Ancho Chile Cream Sauce Recipes

CREAMY POBLANO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Slice one poblano pepper into thin strips.
• Roast the other pepper: If you have a gas stove, turn the burner on and keep the pepper over the flame until it chars - you want it black on all sides. If you don't have a gas stove, turn your broiler on and roast the pepper on the top rack until it is blackened on all sides. Once the pepper is roasted, transfer to a large plastic baggie or a bowl covered with plastic wrap and let steam while you sear the chicken. Once they've sat for about 10 minutes, pull them out and peel the skin off. Take out the membranes and seeds as well.
• While the peppers steam: Heat a large skillet over a medium heat. Add two tablespoons butter or olive oil. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepepr. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken. Sear until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and do the same on the other side. Sear until cooked through, another 3-4 minutes. Take the chicken out and set aside. Don't worry if the chicken is not cooked through, it will simmer in the sauce later to finish cooking.
• Once the chicken is seared, remove from the pan, and add remaining tablespoon of olive oil or butter to the pan. Add the onions and sliced peppers (the sliced peppers you did not roast and steam). Saute for about 5 minutes until softened. Season with a little salt . Add the garlic and cook another minute.
• While the veggies cook, transfer the ROASTED poblano pepper to a blender along with cilantro, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup chicken stock. Blend until smooth. Pour the pureed pepper mixture back into the skillet with the sliced peppers, onions, and garlic. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock, cream, lime juice, honey, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add the chcken breasts back to the skillet with the sauce, cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through. It should read 165 degrees on an instant read thermomter. If needed, add a little bit more chicken stock to loosen the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over rice pilaf, pasta, or mashed potatoes.

CHICKEN STUFFED POBLANO CHILES

Steps:

• While using gloves, wash the poblano chilies and using a sharp paring knife, cut a slit lengthwise from stem to tip of chile leaving stem in tact.
• Carefully cut away the seeds and membrane rinse the inside of the chilies and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, warm 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, add chopped onions and garlic.
• Cook until onions begin to turn golden, stirring frequently.
• Add the diced chicken, sprinkle with seasoning salt and cook until chicken is almost cooked through; add tomato and mushrooms, continue to cook until chicken is done.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 2 quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• With remaining tablespoon olive oil, lightly oil the outside of the chilies and place them cut side up in casserole dish.
• Pack the chicken mixture into chilies and push cheese into mixture along the slit.
• Cover dish, place in preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes; remove cover the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking.
• Serve on top of a bed of saffron rice.

JUANA'S CHICKEN-STUFFED POBLANOS

Steps:

• Roast chiles:
• Lay 4 chiles on their sides on racks of gas burners and turn flames on high. (Or broil all 8 chiles on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat.) Roast chiles, turning with tongs, until skins are blistered but not blackened, 4 to 6 minutes (do not over roast because chiles may fall apart). Transfer immediately to a large plastic bag, then close to allow chiles to steam. Roast remaining chiles in same manner.
• Make filling:
• Cook onion in oil in a medium nonstick skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until onion begins to turn golden, about 4 minutes. Add water and cook, stirring occasionally, until water is evaporated and onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in chicken, salt, and pepper. Cool completely, then stir in cheese.
• Stuff and bake chiles:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Rub skins off chiles. Cut a slit lengthwise in each chile and carefully remove seeds (leave stem attached).
• Stuff filling into chiles through slits, keeping chiles intact. Place chiles in a 13- by 9-inch baking dish and cover tightly with foil.
• Bake chiles in middle of oven until cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.

CILANTRO-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POBLANO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler and lightly brush a shallow baking pan with some oil. Finely chop garlic and in a small bowl stir together with cilantro and salt. Pat chicken dry and trim any fat.
• To form a pocket in chicken for cilantro filling: Put a chicken breast half on a cutting board and, beginning in middle of 1 side of breast half, horizontally insert a sharp thin knife three fourths of the way through center, moving knife in a fanning motion to create a pocket. (Opening will only be about 1 inch wide.) Make pockets in remaining chicken breast halves in same manner. Put about 1/2 tablespoon filling into each pocket and with finger spread evenly. Transfer chicken to baking pan and brush with remaining oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and broil 5 to 6 inches from heat 7 minutes. Turn chicken over and broil until just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Serve chicken with sauce.

BACON, CHILE AND CREAM CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with cooking parchment paper.
• In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Using slotted spoon, transfer to medium bowl. In same skillet, add onion and poblano chile; cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl with bacon. Let stand 3 minutes. Add cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper; stir to combine.
• Cut pocket in each chicken breast by making a horizontal slit along thin long edge, being careful to not cut through to opposite side. Stuff each pocket with a quarter of the cream cheese filling (generous 1/4 cup). Press edges of chicken together to seal.
• Pour melted butter into shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, place bread crumbs. Season stuffed chicken breasts with remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Dip chicken into melted butter to coat both sides, then dip into bread crumbs to coat completely. Transfer to pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center (at least 165°F).