Vegan Chile Relleno (Authentic and Easy to Follow Recipe) (2024)

Mains, Mexican

Posted on June 9, 2021February 22, 2024 by Anna Rios

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Making a vegan chile relleno is now possible! This recipe is flavorful, gluten-free, and as close to authentic as it can get! The batter is made with chickpea flour which adds extra protein and fiber. Vegan cheese oozes out when cut open, making it super satisfying and fun to eat!

Vegan Chile Relleno (Authentic and Easy to Follow Recipe) (1)

What is a Vegan Chile Relleno?

The Chile Relleno is one of the most traditional Mexican recipes dating back to the early 1800s. This dish originated in Puebla, Mexico where a lot of other historic events happened like the battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo!).

Chiles rellenos are typically filled with cheese, meat or potatoes. I grew up eating the cotija cheese-stuffed Chile rellenos, they are my absolute favorite! A lot of people think that this dish is made for special occasions but I grew up eating it regularly.. about once a week! I am thrilled to announce that I have created a vegan version that is delicious and lives up to the expectations.

Vegan Chile Relleno (Authentic and Easy to Follow Recipe) (2)

3 Simple Components of Chiles Rellenos

These are the three different things that are in chili relleno.

Peppers

The poblano pepper is the star of the show for the vegan chile relleno. It has a very mild kick, slight sweetness to it and an overall unique taste. I highly recommend using this one if possible. The only possible substitute would be the Anaheim pepper, but try to use poblano!

Stuffing

The most Mexican-like tasting vegan cheeses are Chao original vegan cheese and Violife vegan feta. Both of these will melt and they both are pretty darn good! However, I recommend making some homemade vegan cotija or my vegan ricotta recipe as a stuffing and it worked extremely well! I was pleasantly surprised.

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Batter

I use chickpea flour to increase the amount of protein in this recipe but you can also use white flour as a substitute. Kala Namak is optional but it does give the batter a more egg-like taste. See image below for consistency of batter:

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How To Store Chili Relleno:

Store leftover stuffed chili peppers in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days.

They taste the bet when they are fresh. As they sit in the refrigerator, the peppers will soften. So eat them as soon as you can!

More Authentic Mexican Vegan Recipes:

  • Vegan Quesadillas
  • Plant-based Pollo Asado
  • Tamales Rojos y de Rajas
  • Vegan Pozole Verde

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Vegan Chile Relleno (Authentic and Easy to Follow Recipe) (5)

Vegan Chile Relleno

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  • Author: Anna Rios
  • Total Time: 40
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Making a vegan chile relleno is now possible! This recipe is flavorful, gluten-free, and as close to authentic as it can get! The batter is made with chickpea flour which adds extra protein and fiber.

  • 4 Poblano Peppers

  • 12 oz vegan cheese*

  • 3 tomatoes

  • 3 garlic cloves

  • 1/4 onion

  • 2-3 tbsp avocado oil

  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

Batter:

  • 1 cup and 2 tbsp chickpea flour

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch

  • 1/2 tsp turmeric

  • 1/2 tsp Kala Namak (black salt)

  • 1 cup water

  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Turn a medium griddle on medium-high heat and roast poblano peppers for about 10 minutes on each side until charred and skin begins to peel.

  2. Put steaming hot peppers in a plastic bag and close tightly to allow them to sweat. Leave in bag for 10-15 minutes and then peel the skins using your hands.

  3. Using a knife, make a vertical cut from the stem to the tip of the Chile.

  4. Fill with vegan cheese, close it back up and secure with 1-2 toothpicks.

Sauce:

  1. Blend tomatoes, onion, cornstarch, garlic, salt and pepper in blender until smooth. Heat a large pan on medium heat and add your “salsa” to the pan, cook until it thickens. Turn off pan and set aside.

Batter:

  1. Add all dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix well.

  2. Add water and incorporate well using a whisk. Whisk well until you create a smooth batter.

  3. Heat a medium pan with oil. Dip each pepper into the batter. Hold over batter for a few seconds to let excess batter drip off. Place in hot oil for about 5 minutes on each side until golden crispy.

  4. After both sides are golden, place on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

  5. Serve with tomato sauce and a side or beans, yum!

  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Mexican
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Chile Relleno

Vegan Chile Relleno (Authentic and Easy to Follow Recipe) (6)

Anna Rios
Vegan Chile Relleno (Authentic and Easy to Follow Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is chile relleno batter made of? ›

Mix milk, 1 cup flour, egg, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon canola oil together in a small bowl until well combined. Place remaining 1/2 cup flour on a shallow plate. Pour 1 inch oil into a heavy frying pan. Heat over medium-high heat.

What is the difference between a chile relleno and chile poblano? ›

The big difference between a chile relleno and a chile poblano is that chile relleno is a recipe for a Mexican entrée and chile poblano is not a recipe, but simply a fresh poblano chile pepper, a large, relatively mild chile pepper with a deep green color.

What is chile relleno sauce made of? ›

Pour in puréed tomatoes, chicken broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, black pepper, hot pepper sauce, and cinnamon. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until sauce is reduced by half and thickened, about 20 minutes.

How healthy is a chile relleno? ›

Worst: Chile Relleno

While the main ingredient here -- a chili pepper -- is healthy, this dish is anything but. That's because the pepper is stuffed with cheese, coated in batter, and deep-fried in oil. Then it's smothered in sauce and melted cheese.

How do you keep chili rellenos from falling apart? ›

You can use a little bit of flour to bind the overlapped edges. If a pepper falls apart as you are stuffing it, do the best you can to squeeze the stuffing into a chile-shaped ball inside strips of chile. The batter will help the whole thing hold together.

How do you make the batter for chile relleno? ›

Whisk the flour, baking powder, cumin, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the beer to a make a smooth batter. In a large, wide, heavy-bottomed pot, pour in the oil to a depth of about 3 inches. Heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 365 degrees F.

What part of Mexico is chile relleno from? ›

The chile relleno (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtʃile reˈʝeno], literally "stuffed chile") is a dish in Mexican cuisine that originated in the city of Puebla.

What are the fun facts about chile rellenos? ›

Fun fact: The main ingredient, poblano peppers (or poblano chiles), is named after Puebla, Mexico. They grew wild in that region's mountainous areas. The dish typically consists of a roasted or grilled poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, meat, or vegetables and then fried or baked.

What pepper can I substitute for a poblano? ›

Yes, you can certainly substitute for your poblano peppers. Some good substitutes would be jalapeno, bell, anaheim, guajillo, and cubanelle. If you wanted a little more heat, you could certainly try some serrano, green chile, banana, or even habanero.

What do you serve with Chile Rellenos? ›

What to serve with chiles rellenos
  • Mexican-Inspired Cole Slaw A refreshing side dish that is perfect with chiles rellenos.
  • Mexican Quinoa Pilaf with Nopales Also a good accompaniment, especially when you want a heartier meal.
  • Taqueria Guadalajara's Avocado & Tomatillo Salsa.
  • Tomato Concassé, with Simple Salsa Cruda.
Oct 19, 2011

How do you peel chiles for Chile Rellenos? ›

Once charred and hot place them in a plastic bag, close it tightly and let them sweat for 10 to 20 minutes. Third, peel and rinse. Preferably under a thin stream of cold water, remove the charred skin which should come right off.

What is the difference between a jalapeno popper and a chile relleno? ›

The jalapeño popper is a thinly veiled, Tex-Mex version of a chile relleno, in which a large roasted chile is stuffed with cheese and fried in an egg batter. A popper, meanwhile, is stuffed raw, unroasted. The packed popper, breaded and deep-fried, lacks the flavor of roasted chile.

What is the most unhealthy Mexican food? ›

What Is the Unhealthiest Dish You Can Order at a Mexican Restaurant? The unhealthiest dish you can order at a Mexican restaurant is… the chimichangas. A chimichanga is essentially a deep-fried burrito. It is a Tex-Mex dish made with a large tortilla stuffed with multiple servings of rice, beans, cheese and meat.

What is the healthiest Mexican food? ›

10 Mexican Foods to Try for Better Health
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) ...
  • Pumpkin. ...
  • Corn tortillas. ...
  • Jicama. ...
  • Cinnamon. ...
  • Cactus. Prickly pear cactus, in particular, is popular in Mexican cuisine. ...
  • Chocolate. Unsweetened chocolate, made from cacao beans, is a rich source of antioxidants and polyphenols ( 15 ).
Sep 13, 2022

What is the healthiest thing to eat at a Mexican restaurant? ›

Mix and match healthy options like grilled meat (chicken, fish, shrimp), ceviche (raw seafood marinated in lemon or lime juice and other seasonings), black beans, brown rice, avocado salad, sautéed veggies, or tortilla soup.

Does chile relleno have nuts? ›

It is typically stuffed with melted cheese, such as queso Chihuahua or queso Oaxaca or with picadillo meat made of diced pork, raisins and nuts, seasoned with canella; covered in an egg white batter, simply corn masa flour and fried, or without any batter at all.

What is poblano made of? ›

Poblano peppers are reasonably mild Mexican chili peppers. Their name comes from where they were first grown –– the Mexican state of Puebla. The dried version of these peppers is called ancho chiles. In addition to dried poblanos, you can also find these heart-shaped peppers fresh.

Does chile relleno have a lot of carbs? ›

Chili (chile) relleno with cheese, fried (1 each - chili) contains 9.9g total carbs, 8.9g net carbs, 16.4g fat, 8.2g protein, and 217 calories.

What does chiles en nogada contain? ›

Chiles en nogada is a Mexican dish of poblano chiles stuffed with picadillo (a mixture usually containing shredded meat, aromatics, fruits and spices) topped with a walnut-based cream sauce called nogada, pomegranate seeds and parsley, and it is typically served at room temperature.

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