Chiles Relleno (Stuffed Mexican Peppers)

Roast chiles: Preheat oven to high broil. Wash peppers, pat completely dry, and place them on a baking sheet. Broil for several minutes, turning halfway, until very blackened on both sides. Remove from heat, place chiles in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and allow them to steam for 5-10 minutes until they are cool enough to handle.

5 Poblano chiles

Prep chiles: Open the bag and gently peel the charred outer skin off of the chiles—it should come off easily. Starting at the top stem of the chiles, use a knife to make a small slit into the side of each chili about 1.5 inches long. Use your finger or a small spoon to gently remove the seeds and membrane, (being careful not to tear the peppers). Cut the cheese into chunks and carefully stuff a few pieces in to fill each chili.

8 ounces Oaxaca, Manchego or Monterrey jack cheese

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, to 375 degrees F.

Make batter: Separate the egg whites into a small mixing bowl, and the egg yolks into a large, deep mixing bowl. To the bowl with the egg yolks, add milk, ½ cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper. Beat the egg whites until stiff, then gently fold into the batter.

½ cup milk, 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¾ cup all-purpose flour

Dip and Fry: Add remaining ¼ cup of flour to a shallow bowl or plate and gently coat chiles in flour on both sides—they only need a light coating, which will help the batter adhere to them.

Check the oil to make sure it’s ready by adding a small drop of batter to it. It should gently sizzle and begin to cook and turn golden. Lay one of the chiles into the batter and gently spoon batter over it to cover it in a thin layer. Allow excess to drip off, and then carefully lay it in the hot oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, flipping half way through, until golden brown.

Oil, for frying