**Introducing Cazuela Nogada: A Symphony of Flavors and Textures**
In the heart of Mexican cuisine, there exists a dish that embodies the nation's culinary prowess: Cazuela Nogada. This elaborate dish is a harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors, a captivating interplay of textures, and a vibrant display of colors that reflects Mexico's rich heritage. From the sweet and tangy pomegranate seeds to the rich walnut sauce, from the tender chicken to the fluffy chiles en nogada, every element of Cazuela Nogada comes together to create a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Discover the secrets behind this iconic dish and embark on a culinary journey through its delectable recipes.
**Recipes:**
1. **Classic Cazuela Nogada**: Experience the authentic flavors of this traditional recipe, featuring tender chicken, sweet and tangy pomegranate seeds, a creamy walnut sauce, and fluffy chiles en nogada.
2. **Vegetarian Cazuela Nogada**: Delight in a meatless variation of this beloved dish, where hearty mushrooms and vegetables replace chicken, creating a flavorful and satisfying plant-based alternative.
3. **Crispy Cazuela Nogada**: Elevate your Cazuela Nogada experience with a crispy twist. This recipe incorporates a golden-brown crust, adding an extra layer of texture and flavor to the classic dish.
4. **Mini Cazuela Nogada**: Perfect for parties or individual servings, these miniature versions of Cazuela Nogada offer a delightful bite-sized treat. They are ideal for showcasing this iconic dish in a fun and elegant way.
5. **Cazuela Nogada Empanadas**: Combine the flavors of Cazuela Nogada with the convenience of empanadas. These handheld pastries are filled with the classic ingredients of the dish, making them a tasty and portable snack or appetizer.
**Explore the diverse recipes presented in this article and uncover the culinary artistry behind Cazuela Nogada. From the traditional to the innovative, each recipe offers a unique perspective on this cherished Mexican dish.**
CHILES EN NOGADA
Considered by many to be the national dish of Mexico, chiles en nogada showcases the colors of the country's flag: green, white and red. Created by nuns in Puebla in 1821, the dish was presented to the general of the Mexican Army, Agustín de Iturbide, after he signing the treaty that recognized Mexico's independence from Spain. The nuns used the best of the late-season harvest in the dish, including poblano chiles, peaches, pears, apples and walnuts grown in farms near Puebla. The original dish was stuffed, battered and fried, and significantly heartier than this version. Here, fresh poblanos are fried until lightly cooked, peeled, stuffed, topped with creamy walnut sauce, then eaten at room temperature. It's served throughout the country every September, in honor of Mexico's Independence Day.
Provided by Rick A. Martinez
Categories dinner, meat, vegetables, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 27
Steps:
- Make the picadillo: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high. Spread pork in an even layer and cook, undisturbed, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up meat with the back of a spoon and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until meat is crumbled and lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the browned meat to a large bowl and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, apple, pear, plantain, garlic and 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary. Add 1 teaspoon pepper, the oregano, cinnamon and clove, and cook, stirring frequently, until very fragrant, 1 minute.
- Stir in sherry and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and no longer smells of alcohol, 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and their juices, peach, raisins and almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated, 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked pork, olives, lemon zest and 1 cup water, and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has evaporated, the vegetables and fruit are tender and the pork is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and set aside until ready to use.
- Meanwhile, fry the poblanos: Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan fitted with a deep-fry thermometer on high until thermometer registers 375 degrees. Working in four batches, fry the poblanos, turning once, until skin is opaque and blistered, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer poblanos to a large, heatproof bowl, wrap tightly with plastic and let sit 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel skin from chiles, leaving stem intact. Chiles should still be firm and bright green. Using a paring knife, make a 2-inch cut (about 1 inch from the top) lengthwise down the side of each poblano and carefully remove seeds and ribs.
- Place the poblanos cut-side up on a rimmed baking sheet and fill each with about 1/2 cup picadillo, gently pressing the filling into the poblanos with the back of a spoon, until full but not bursting or splitting. Set aside.
- Make the sauce: Purée the walnuts, almonds, crème fraîche and queso fresco with 1 1/4 cups water and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a blender until creamy. Season with salt and thin with more water, if necessary.
- Serve stuffed chiles at room temperature topped with nogada sauce, pomegranate seeds and parsley leaves.
CHILE RELLENO EN NOGADA
Steps:
- Prepare the poblano peppers by heating a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles on contact. Add the poblanos, and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is blackened and blistered on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes depending of the size of the poblanos. Remove from the griddle as they are done and place in a plastic bag, let sit for 5 minutes, until the skins are soft enough to be easily removed. Remove the poblanos from the bag, and using your fingers and small sharp knife, peel and scrape off as much of the blackened skin as possible, (a few black specks don't matter). Leave the tops on and cut small (2 to 3-inch) lengthwise slits in the polios and carefully pull out the seeds without tearing the flesh.
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a blender and process until thoroughly pureed. Set aside art room temperature or keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.
- In a medium-size skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the tomato, cilantro and cook for another minute. Add the meat and cook stirring, until the meat is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Add the potatoes, cook for 2 minutes, then stir in the black currants and the almonds. Remove from the heat. Carefully stuff the mixture into the chiles through the slit, taking care not to rip the chiles. Transfer the stuffed poblanos to a serving platter. Cover with the walnut sauce and garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley.
CAZUELA
I learned to make this dish while we were living in Chile for a few months. We grow extra butternut squash in our garden just for this recipe. -Louise Schmid, Marshall, Minnesota
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large soup kettle or Dutch oven, place the chicken, squash, potatoes, corn, carrots and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until chicken is done and vegetables are tender. , Serve over rice in a shallow soup bowl. Serve with hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper and cilantro or parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 416 calories, Fat 8g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 52mg cholesterol, Sodium 968mg sodium, Carbohydrate 67g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 23g protein.
CHILES EN NOGADA (MEXICAN STUFFED POBLANO PEPPERS IN WALNUT SAUCE)
This traditional Mexican dish is from the area of Puebla. Poblano chiles are stuffed with a flavorful ground pork stuffing, then covered in a creamy walnut sauce and garnished with pomegranate seeds and parsley. The long list of ingredients is deceiving - this make ahead dish is quite easy once you have all your ingredients!
Provided by mega2408
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 1h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Roast poblano chiles over an open flame on a gas stove or grill until the skin is black and charred on all sides, turning often, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Place the charred chiles in a plastic bag or in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then open and peel off the skin. Cut a slit in each chile lengthwise and remove the seeds.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add ground pork and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon while cooking, about 7 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, plantain, apple, peach, parsley, candied orange peel, pine nuts, raisins, almonds, cloves, salt, and pepper. Simmer until filling is cooked through and flavors are well combined, about 10 minutes.
- Combine walnuts, milk, goat cheese, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a blender; blend until walnut sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Fill each poblano chile with the pork filling and place on a plate. Spoon walnut sauce over chile and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 724.3 calories, Carbohydrate 41.4 g, Cholesterol 85.5 mg, Fat 50.5 g, Fiber 8.5 g, Protein 33.8 g, SaturatedFat 13.2 g, Sodium 226.7 mg, Sugar 22.7 g
CHILES EN NOGADA (STUFFED POBLANO CHILE PEPPERS)
A savory/sweet stuffing of chicken, raisins, walnuts, sugar and spices fills these chile peppers with flavor. Topped with a creamy goat cheese sauce and garnished with fresh chopped cilantro, this dish is a treat for both eyes and palette. Muy sabroso (very flavorful)!
Provided by Lucy Loo
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 1h30m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Place chicken in a large pot with the halved onion, two carrots, one stalk celery, and 1 clove garlic, and cover with water. Boil until done. Slice meat into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until soft, then add chicken, raisins, brown sugar, 4 ounces walnuts, pepper and bay leaves. Mix together and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, then stir in vinegar, cilantro and tomato paste; reduce heat to low and let all simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Cut a slit in each chile pepper along one side, lengthwise, so that they can be reconstructed after they are stuffed. Stuff each chile pepper with cooled chicken mixture and place in preheated oven to keep warm.
- To Make Sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream cheese, goat cheese, sour cream, 8 ounces walnuts, nutmeg and granulated sugar. Heat, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes. When blended together, pour sauce over warm chile peppers and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 942.3 calories, Carbohydrate 30.3 g, Cholesterol 152.9 mg, Fat 81 g, Fiber 4.8 g, Protein 28.7 g, SaturatedFat 31.4 g, Sodium 375.2 mg, Sugar 18.7 g
CHILES EN NOGADA
Steps:
- For the chiles: In a medium saute pan over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the chicken and cook until it starts to turn white, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the apples, apricots, cranberries, pears, raisins and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the wine and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with sugar, salt and pepper, and then remove from the heat.
- Stuff each roasted poblano pepper with one-quarter of the chicken mixture and set aside.
- For the sauce: In a medium saute pan over medium-low heat, cook the shallots in the vegetable oil until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until it turns a light caramel color, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until it is almost completely evaporated, about 15 minutes. Add the heavy cream and simmer until reduced by half, about 15 more minutes. Stir in the almonds and season with salt and pepper.
- To serve, place each stuffed poblano pepper on a plate and top with 2 tablespoons sauce. Garnish with the cilantro and pomegranate seeds.
CAZUELA
Puerto Rican cazuela, a richly spiced crustless pie with a texture between thick custard and bread pudding, is a unique dessert with a complex history. The name means "cooking pot" in Spanish, and the key ingredients - batata (white sweet potato), pumpkin and coconut milk - and the traditional cooking process speak to the island's African ancestry. Flavored with ginger, cloves, cinnamon and anise, this dish also includes spices brought to the Caribbean during the spice trade. Cazuela has been prepared since at least the 19th century, and today it's largely reserved for holidays. This version is an adaptation of the classic, with sweet plantain added for flavor, and a tip for using canned ingredients. While this dessert may seem challenging at first glance, it is incredibly adaptable and can be prepared days in advance in a casserole dish, ramekins or even foil cupcake tins.
Provided by Von Diaz
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 2h30m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- If using banana leaves, soften them by gently heating each side, turning continuously, over an open gas burner until pliable, about 1 or 2 minutes. (If your banana leaves are already soft and pliable, you can skip this step.) Tuck leaves into a 2.5-liter baking dish, overlapping as needed to cover the bottom and sides, and trimming any pieces that go over the edge of the dish with a sharp pair of scissors. Grease the banana leaves, or 10 (8-ounce) ramekins with 1/2 tablespoon of softened butter. If using ramekins, arrange on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil over high heat in a large pot. Add the anise pods and 1 teaspoon salt, then add the sweet potato and boil for 10 minutes. Add the pumpkin and plantain, and boil for another 15 to 20 minutes, until everything is fork tender. (Adding these ingredients in batches ensures they cook evenly, and that the pumpkin, in particular, doesn't fall apart.) Transfer to a large mesh strainer, discard the anise pods, rinse with cold water and let drain fully.
- While the sweet potatoes boil, heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the coconut milk, eggs, brandy, and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sugar, flour and remaining 1 teaspoon salt.
- Transfer sweet potato, pumpkin and plantain to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or a large mixing bowl if using a handheld electric mixer. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then add remaining 3 tablespoons of softened butter and blend on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add wet ingredients and blend to fully incorporate. Add dry ingredients and blend until mixture is silky smooth and resembles a loose pudding, about 2 minutes.
- Fold in raisins using a spatula, then pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish or ramekins, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour (40 to 50 minutes if using ramekins). Test by poking the center with a toothpick or skewer; if it doesn't come out clean, bake for 5 to 10 more minutes. The cazuela should be firm with a golden top.
- Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to fully cool, about 30 minutes. Cazuela should separate easily from banana leaves or buttered ramekins, and either be eaten directly from the container, or flipped onto a plate. If you plan to unmold, turn the cazuela out onto a large rectangular platter, then peel off and discard the banana leaves, if using. Serve topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut or dark chocolate shavings, or a combination.
Tips:
- Choose the freshest ingredients possible. This will make a big difference in the overall flavor of the dish.
- Make sure the chiles poblanos are roasted properly. This will help to bring out their flavor and make them easier to peel.
- Don't be afraid to adjust the amount of spices to your own taste. The recipe calls for a moderate amount of spices, but you can add more or less depending on your preference.
- Be careful not to overcook the filling. The meat should be cooked through, but not dry.
- Serve the cazuela nogada immediately after it is assembled. This will help to keep the dish warm and prevent the filling from getting soggy.
Conclusion:
Cazuela nogada is a delicious and festive dish that is perfect for special occasions. It is a bit time-consuming to make, but it is well worth the effort. The combination of flavors and textures in this dish is truly unique and unforgettable. If you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, I highly recommend giving cazuela nogada a try.
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