Cheesy Anaheim and Poblano Pepper Rice

Ingredients:

2½ cups long grain white rice
1 tsp. salt
5 cups water (or broth)
3 Anaheim peppers
2 Poblano peppers
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ a yellow onion
6 medium-sized tomatillos
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
8 oz. light sour cream
½ tsp. dried, ground coriander
1 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to your liking

Instructions:

Roast the peppers. If you have a gas stove, this is easily done by toasting the peppers over an open flame (on high), using tongs to turn the peppers constantly. Once the peppers are nicely blackened on all sides, place in a bowl and then tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

The trapped steam will soften the peppers and loosen their skins. After 15 minutes, pull the stems out of each pepper. Pull the skins off the pepper. I like to do this under running cold water, as it seems to help make the job quicker. You can also use a paper towel to rub off the loosened skins. Holding one end, squeeze the pepper length-wise, to remove the bulk of its seeds.

If you are using an oven, turn it on to the broiler setting. Brush each pepper with 1-2 teaspoons of vegetable, sunflower, or another high-smoke point oil. Arrange the peppers on a baking sheet, then place the sheet on the highest rack in your oven. Keeping a close eye on the peppers, remove them once dark, blackened spots appear. As with stove-top roasted peppers, place in a bowl and cover for 15 minutes. Follow the above directions for removing the skins and seeds.

Cook the rice. Place the 5 cups of water and salt in a large pot with a lid. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the rice, then cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 22-25 minutes, until the water has evaporated completely.

Turn off the heat. Use a fork to fluff up the rice, then cover again and let the rice sit for 5 minutes.

Attach the large chopping blade to your food processor (or use a high powered blender). Add the roasted Anaheim peppers, one of the Poblano peppers, garlic, onion tomatillos. Blend until smooth. Add in the sour cream until completely combined.

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly oil or butter a 9×9 inch baking pan.

Dice up the remaining Poblano pepper. Fold the diced Poblano pepper as well as the blended pepper mixture into the rice. Add about half of the cheddar, half of the monterey jack cheese and half of the cotija cheese, coriander, oregano, pepper and salt, stirring until everything is evenly combined. Pour the rice into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle on the remaining cheddar, monterey jack, and cotija cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the top is nicely golden brown. Allow the rice to sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy while still hot.

From forbiddenriceblog.wordpress.com