Beefy and Cheesy Low-Carb Green Chile Bake
Anaheim’s are very popular in Southwestern US Cuisine.Also called “New Mexican Chile”. These were developed by Dr. Fabian Garcia in New Mexico about 100 yrs ago who was seeking a chile pepper that was bigger, fleshier, and milder.
They got the name “Anaheim” when a farmer named Emilio Ortega brought these seeds to the Anaheim area in the early 1900’s. This chile can be roasted and peeled and used in recipes or stuffed to make chile rellenos just as the Poblano Chile.
Makes about 8 servings.
Ingredients:
56 oz. roasted and peeled green chiles
2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb. lean ground beef
salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
4 cups grated Mexican Blend cheese (or use any mild cheese that melts well)
1 onion, chopped
4 oz diced green chiles
5 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature (full fat or reduced-fat)
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground chili powder
For serving: extra sour cream, salsa, or diced avocado if desired
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375F/190C. Spray a 9 inch x 13 inch glass casserole dish with olive oil or non-stick spray. (Any size close to that will work.)
Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef well, breaking it apart as it browns. (I like to use an old-fashioned Potato Masher to break the ground beef apart.) When beef is well browned, season with salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste and remove it to a plate. Heat the other 2 teaspoons of olive oil, then add the chopped onion and cook until the onions are softened and starting to brown. Add the diced green chiles and juice, stir to combine with the onions and cook 2-3 minutes more. Add the ground beef and cook a few minutes more.
Put the eggs in a bowl and beat with a fork to combine the whites and yolks. Then add the sour cream, cumin, and chili powder and whisk together until the eggs and sour cream are combined. (It doesn’t matter if there are a few lumps.)
With the whole green chiles, use your fingers to open each chile and remove any seeds. Lay chiles out on paper towels, then place another layer of paper towels over the top and press down gently to absorb extra moisture. (I like to arrange the chiles in two stacks after that so I can divide them evenly when I make the layers.)
In the casserole dish make a layer of half the chiles, half the ground beef/onion/chile mixture, and half the cheese; then pour over half the egg mixture. Make a second layer of chiles, beef mixture, and cheese; then pour over the rest of the egg mixture.
Cover the casserole with foil (or a lid if it has one) and bake 15 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and then bake about 25 minutes more, or until the casserole is bubbling and the top is nicely browned. Serve hot, with extra sour cream, salsa, or diced avocado to add at the table if desired.
This freezes well and can be reheated in a microwave or in a covered dish in a toaster oven or regular oven. For best results, thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Adapted from kalynskitchen.com