Cooking with Chef Johnny Vee: Chile Rellenos

Learn to make chile rellenos in this video, the first of a series hosted by Chef John Vollertsen. See the video and tell a friend.

CHILE RELLENOS
(Serves 6)

8 ounces cold sharp Cheddar cheese
6 large whole New Mexico green chiles, roasted and peeled
1 batch beer or blue corn-buttermilk batter (recipes follow)
3 cups vegetable oil for frying
1 batch red chile sauce (recipe follows)
Optional: Sprigs of fresh cilantro and sour cream or crema thinned slightly and poured into a squeeze bottle for decorating plates

Cut cold cheese into matchstick-size pieces, 2 inches long by 1/8-inch square. Cut a tiny slit toward the top of the roasted, peeled chile and carefully slide in pieces of the cheese until the chile is filled with cheese. (Handle with care so you won't tear the chile.)

Drain stuffed chiles on paper towels before dipping in batter. Heat oil to 350 degrees. Dip chiles, one at a time, into batter and carefully slide them into the hot oil, be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Once they are golden brown, turn the chiles over and fry the other side. The second side will brown more quickly. Keep warm in oven until all chiles are fried. Drain fried chiles on paper towels.

Make a pool of red chile sauce on each plate and top with a fried chile. If you like, you can use the sour cream to make a decorative squiggle on the red chile sauce, and top the relleno with a sprig of fresh cilantro.

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BEER BATTER
3/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, toasted
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1 cup beer, any brand as long as it's not dark

Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, cumin and cayenne in medium bowl.

Measure beer into tilted measuring cup to be sure you have 1 cup liquid under the foam. Stir beer and foam into the bowl of dry ingredients and whisk batter until smooth.

Allow batter to rest 20 minutes before using.

If a thinner batter is desired, add a small amount of additional beer.

RED CHILE SAUCE
(Makes about 2-3/4 cups)

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup mild ground red chile
1 tablespoon ground ancho chile powder
1/4 cup hot ground red chile
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2-3/4 cups vegetable, beef or chicken stock*
1 teaspoon salt

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until roux turns golden yellow, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat in stir in all three ground chiles. Return pan to heat and whisk in garlic, oregano, cumin and stock. Reduce heat to low.

Allow sauce to simmer for 10 minutes and season with salt.

(Red chile sauce freezes well.)

*Note: Use vegetable stock to make the chile rellenos vegetarian. Choose chicken stock for general use, or if you will be serving the sauce with a chicken dish. Beef stock is a good match for beef dishes, such as enchiladas.