Chiles with Walnut Sauce

This dish takes some time to prepare, but you'll find it is worth the effort. Read the recipe through prior to preparing it. You can make the sauce and the meat filling separately in advance, and then assemble dish when you're ready to celebrate.

Recipe Ingredients:

Chiles:
10 poblano chiles

Meat Filling:
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tomatoes, peeled and seeded, chopped
1 plantain, peeled, chopped
1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 large peach, peeled, pitted and chopped
1 medium pear, peeled, cored and chopped
1/4 cup acitrón* or candied citron
7 to 8 green olives with pimentos, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 whole clove
1/2 teaspoon capers
2 teaspoons granulated sugar or more to taste (optional)
1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 cup dry sherry

Walnut Sauce:
2 cups shelled walnut halves
Boiling water
1 (12-ounce) can NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
1 (7.6-ounce) can NESTLÉ Media Crema
6 ounces goat cheese, queso doble crema or grated Monterey Jack Cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or more to taste
1 teaspoon dried sherry
1 tablespoon granulated sugar or more to taste
Seeds from 1 pomegranate
Fresh, chopped parsley leaves

Cooking Directions:

1. For Chiles: Roast chiles over open flame on gas stovetop or under broiler, turning often, until skins are charred. Place in paper or plastic bag and close to “sweat” chile for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove chiles from bag and run under cold water. Skin will peel off easily. Make lengthwise slit to remove seeds and veins. Rinse chiles and pat dry with paper towels. (We suggest that plastic gloves be worn when working with the chiles as skin can become irritated. Do not touch face or eyes when working with the chiles.)
2. For Meat Filling: Heat oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until just soft, but not browned. Add ground beef. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally; drain. Add the remaining ingredients except the sherry. Turn the heat to medium low. Simmer, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Stir in the sherry and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
3. For Walnut Sauce: Place walnuts in medium bowl. Cover with boiling water; let stand for 5 minutes. Drain. When walnuts are cool enough to handle, remove the skins and discard them. (This will take a long time!) Walnuts may need to be covered with boiling water again to keep them easy to peel.
4. Place peeled nuts, evaporated milk, media crema, goat cheese, cinnamon, sherry and sugar in blender container; cover. Blend until smooth. (It should be the consistency of a thick milkshake.) Makes about 4 cups.
5. To Assemble and Serve: Fill each chile with about 1/2 cup filling. Place stuffed chiles on serving platter. Cover with Walnut Sauce and place remaining sauce in serving bowl. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley. Serve at room temperature.

Makes 10 servings.

*Acitrón is the crystallized or candied pad or paddle (leaf) of the prickly pear cactus. This can be found at Latin markets.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/10 of recipe): Calories: 520 Calories from Fat: 290 Total Fat: 32 g Saturated Fat: 12 g Cholesterol: 60 mg Sodium: 460 mg Carbohydrates: 38 g Dietary Fiber: 5 g Sugars: 22 g Protein: 21 g.

Recipe and photograph are the property of Nestlé® and Meals.com, used with permission.