
Chiles en Nogada (Mexican Stuffed Poblano Peppers in Walnut Sauce) Recipe
Chiles en nogada represents traditional Mexican culinary artistry from Puebla, featuring poblano chiles stuffed with flavorful ground pork and topped with elegant walnut cream sauce. This sophisticated dish showcases the pinnacle of Mexican cooking techniques with complex flavors that balance smoky peppers, savory meat filling, and rich, creamy walnut sauce. The beautiful presentation makes this perfect for special occasions and celebrations.

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!
Ingredients
8 poblano peppers
Filling:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 ¾ pounds ground pork
2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
1 ripe plantain, chopped
1 apple, chopped
1 fresh peach, chopped
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped candied orange peel
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons blanched almonds, chopped
4 whole cloves, ground
salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
2 ½ cups chopped walnuts
1 ¾ cups milk
¾ cup soft goat cheese
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 (1 inch) piece cinnamon stick
Garnish:
1 ½ cups pomegranate seeds
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions
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.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Cook’s Note
This is a great make-ahead dish. You can make the filling and roast the chiles ahead of time, then whip up the sauce and assemble the dish at the last minute.
You can use ground cinnamon and cloves instead of grinding the whole spices yourself.
Instead of the candied orange peel, you can use acitrón, a traditional Mexican candy that’s made from crystallized biznaga cactus and used in many sweet and savory dishes.
Editor’s Note:
Please note differences in ingredient amounts and total time when following the magazine version of this recipe.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
724 | Calories |
51g | Fat |
41g | Carbs |
34g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
Calories 724 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat 51g | 65% |
Saturated Fat 13g | 66% |
Cholesterol 86mg | 29% |
Sodium 227mg | 10% |
Total Carbohydrate 41g | 15% |
Dietary Fiber 9g | 30% |
Total Sugars 23g | |
Protein 34g | 68% |
Vitamin C 107mg | 118% |
Calcium 231mg | 18% |
Iron 4mg | 24% |
Potassium 1220mg | 26% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.