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 WITH CREAMY POBLANO SAUCE

Steps:

• Turn on your oven-broiler to the high setting in preparation to roast the peppers, onion, and garlic. As I mentioned in my notes, you do not need to use your oven to roast the peppers and the other ingredients if you have a gas stove, you can even roast them over a regular griddle. If you use this oven version, take advantage and also use the hot oven to warm other foods.
• Place the poblano peppers, onion slices, and garlic clove on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil, roast for about 2 minutes per side. Remove garlic promptly since it will be ready quickly.
• Remove from oven and lightly wrap with the aluminum foil for about 5 minutes.
• Season chicken breast with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large frying pan, once it is hot add the chicken breast to cook about 3-4 minutes per side. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken cutlets. Do not overcook, since they will keep cooking with the Poblano salsa. Remove from the frying pan, place on a plate and cover with aluminum foil.
• Clean peppers removing the charred skins, open the peppers by making a slit from top to bottom and remove the seeds and veins. Reserve one half of one pepper and cut into small strips.
• Place the rest of the peppers, white onion, garlic, heavy cream, milk, and chicken bouillon in your blender. Process until you have a beautiful creamy sauce.
• Melt butter in the same frying pan, and pour the sauce. Gently simmer on a medium heat, allow cooking for 5 minutes, adding the chicken, and keep cooking for another 5-6 minutes. Keep the heat low to avoid the creamy sauce from curdling.

CHICKEN WITH POBLANO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast chile over a gas burner or under the broiler, until charred all over. Wrap in paper towel; steam 5 minutes. Rub off skin; remove seeds and ribs. Chop coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic; cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chile and cream.
• Puree in blender; add water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat remaining tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden and juices run clear, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with sauce.

CHICKEN WITH POBLANO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast the chile over a gas burner or under the broiler, until charred all over. Wrap in a paper towel; steam for 5 minutes. Rub off the skin; remove the seeds and ribs. Chop coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add the onion and garlic; cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chile and cream. 3 Purée in a blender; add water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until it is golden and the juices run clear, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with the sauce.

POBLANO AND PEPPER JACK-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH ANCHO CHILE CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the poblano and pepper jack-stuffed chicken breasts: Roast the poblano peppers over an open flame until completely charred, transfer to a plastic bag and seal for 10 minutes. Peel the charred skin, remove all the seeds and cut each pepper in half.
• Meanwhile, put chicken breasts on a cutting board and pound with a meat mallet to 1/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil, heat, then add the chicken and cook until the first side is golden-brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is golden-brown, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until just cooked through, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the ancho chile cream sauce: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook until reduced by 1/3. Add the Cajun spice and ancho chile powder and simmer for another minute or so. Keep warm.
• When the chicken is done, cut each piece into 2 equal halves. Lay one piece in the centers of 2 dinner plates and top each with 2 poblano halves, 1 piece of pepper jack, and another piece of chicken. Pour half of the Ancho Chile Cream Sauce over the tops and serve immediately.

ROASTED POBLANO AND CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH SOUR CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• To roast the peppers: Cut poblano peppers in half, remove all seeds and stem. Roast poblano peppers at 450 degrees until skin begins to blister and turn black in spots, this should take about 10-15 minutes. ***I save the plastic produce sack the peppers came in and when they come out of the oven, I place them in the sack and seal the sack. Let sit 5-10 minutes. The steam from inside will loosen the black skin. Pick what you can of the black parts off, then chop the peppers.
• Combine the first 8 ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
• To make the sour cream enchilada sauce: Saute shallot, garlic and peppers in butter over medium heat in a large skillet until veggies soften. Add spices. Cook for another minute.
• Combine sour cream and flour well. Add to skillet along with chicken broth. Wisk to combine. (It'll look a little funny for a minute, but don't worry!) Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat, wisk and simmer until sauce is thick and creamy.
• Add 3/4 cup of enchy sauce to the filling mixture. Combine well.
• In a greased 13x9 casserole, coat the bottom of dish with 1/2 cup of enchy sauce.
• Place 1/4 cup of filling down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in casserole. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. Top casserole with remaining enchy sauce.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until warm and bubbly!
• Garnish with green onions.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POBLANO CHILE STRIPS AND CREAM

Steps:

• Lay chiles on their sides on racks of gas burners, then turn flames on moderately high. Roast chiles, turning with tongs, until skins are blistered, 4 to 6 minutes. (Or broil chiles on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat, turning them, 8 to 10 minutes.) Transfer chiles immediately to a large sealable plastic bag and seal. Let steam 10 minutes, then peel or rub off skins and discard stems, seeds, and ribs. Rinse chiles and pat dry, then cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
• Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté chicken, skin or skinned sides down, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn chicken over and sauté 2 minutes more. Reduce heat to moderately low, then pour off excess fat and cook chicken, covered, until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, heat remaining tablespoon oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, then cook onion, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chiles and salt to taste and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add crème fraîche and cook, stirring, until just heated through (if using sour cream, do not let boil). Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle chicken with any pan juices and serve with sauce.

CHICKEN WITH POBLANO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook onions and peppers in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 12 to 15 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, mix garlic powder and pepper; sprinkle over chicken. Cook in separate nonstick skillet on medium heat 6 to 7 min. on each side or until done (165ºF).
• Add cheese to vegetables in skillet; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream. Serve over chicken.

CHICKEN BREASTS IN POBLANO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Pound chicken breasts flat and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rub poblano with olive oil and place on a foil covered baking sheet and roast for 3 to 4 minutes, or until skin blackens.
• Remove from oven and rub off outer skin with a towel ( I use a damp paper towel).
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan.
• Add flour and stir over medium heat until thick.
• In a blender or food processor,pure'e half of the poblano together with the milk.
• Add to the flour mixture, mix well, and whisk in heavy cream.
• Cook over low heat until thick and bubbly, stirring often. Add salt to taste.
• Melt remaining butter in an ovenproof pan over medium-high heat and sear chicken breasts for 3 minutes on each side.
• Cut remaining poblano in strips.
• Cover chicken breasts with poblano strips,sauce and cheese.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese has melted.