Vegan Stuffed Poblano Peppers

A while back, a friend of mine looked at this recipe and said, "Wait. No cheese?" Yes, I said. No cheese. You're not going to miss it.

She eyed me with deep skepticism.

And, I get it. Chile Rellenos are one of my favorite things in the whole wide world because chilies or peppers with cheese is DELICIOUS.

BUT - cheese just isn't always a necessary ingredient to get you to delicious.

Having said that, you CAN add some cheese to these stuffed peppers AND keep them vegan by serving them with Vegan Nacho Cheese. So good!

What You'll Love About this Stuffed Poblano Pepper Recipe

I'm not the kind of cook that likes to make the same things over and over again. And yet I make these stuffed poblano peppers all the time. These slightly spicy, flavor packed peppers just check all the boxes for me:

• These stuffed peppers are SO quick and easy to prepare
• They use whole {not processed}, healthy ingredients that just happen to be gluten and dairy free. Hooray for real food!
• They are naturally vegan (unless you top them with regular sour cream instead of vegan sour cream) but hearty enough to satisfy meat lovers.
• They are a GREAT way to use up leftovers! Toss any other ingredients you like into the filling.
• They reheat well! These stuffed peppers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat well in the microwave or in the oven. I always make enough to ensure that I get to eat stuffed peppers for lunch later in the week.

Ingredients Needed to Make this Recipe

There's two ingredients in these stuffed peppers that you can either make from scratch or simply open a couple of cans:

1. Enchilada sauce or Mexican Adobo
2. Black beans

The recipe for homemade enchilada sauce makes more than you'll need for these peppers. This is not a problem. In fact, it's a HUGE bonus.

Use the leftover sauce to make cheesy Cheese Enchilada Casserole, Southwest Summer Corn Chowder, Black Bean Tostadas with Roasted Corn Salsa, or Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Enchilada sauce also freezes really, really well. So, if you're not wanting to use the leftover sauce in any other recipe this week, pop it into the freezer for when you do.

The other option is to use Mexican Adobo. This recipe for Mexican adobo only takes about 25 minutes to make but is a powerhouse of flavor. Just like homemade enchilada sauce Mexican adobo can be prepared ahead and frozen.

If you've never cooked dried beans you might be surprised to learn that they only take about 5 minutes of hands-on time.

Cook dried black beans in the slow cooker or on the stovetop, or in the instant pot. Either option requires you to simply dump some beans and spices into the pot and then let them simmer for a few hours.

Also like the enchilada sauce, one batch of beans will give you much more than you need for these peppers. Also not a problem. 

Use the leftover beans to make Black Bean Tomato Soup, Veggie Black Bean Nachos, Cuban Chicken and Rice, Vegetarian Chili, or Black Bean Tostadas.

If You Don't Want to Make Enchilada Sauce or Cook Dried Beans:

If you want to make stuffed poblano peppers right now (and who doesn't?) and you don't have any homemade beans or enchilada sauce in your refrigerator, just open a couple of cans or jars.

Canned black beans, prepared enchilada sauce, and Mexican adobo are readily available in most supermarkets and perfectly delicious in these stuffed peppers.

Done and done. Easy peasy.

In Addition to Enchilada Sauce or Mexican Adobo and Black Beans, you'll Also Need These Ingredients:

• Poblano peppers (obviously)
• A little bit of olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1 small red onion
• Some sound smoked paprika and cumin, salt and pepper
• About 4 cloves of garlic
• A handful of fresh cilantro
• A couple of cups of diced fresh tomatoes (if tomatoes are in season) OR canned tomatoes
• A cup of cooked rice
• Fresh squeezed lime juice

How to Make These Stuffed Peppers:

The most tedious part of making these (and it's not that tedious) is peeling the blacked skin from the roasted poblanos. After that, you simply simmer the stuffing ingredients in a saucepan, stuff the peppers, and bake.

1. Wash and dry the poblano peppers and lay them out on the baking sheet so that they are not touching. Set them under the broiler in your oven and cook until the skin is completely black. Turn them over and blacken on the other side.
2. Place the peppers in a bowl, cover with a towel and let them cool down a bit.
3. In the mean time, cook some diced onions in a saucepan until they are soft, then add the cumin, paprika, and garlic.
4. Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan except for the rice and cilantro. Cover the sauce pan and let everything simmer away and get happy for about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in some cooked rice, cilantro, and lime juice.
5. Cut open the poblano peppers, remove the stem and seeds, and gently pull off and discard the blackened skin.
6. Set the peppers in a baking dish and stuff them with a generous amount of filling.
7. Bake the peppers for 20 minutes then serve drizzled with some more enchilada sauce or Mexican adobo and a dollop of vegan sour cream.

What To Serve with Stuffed Poblano Peppers:

1. Sour cream or vegan sour cream.

2. Warm Homemade Flour Tortillas (or Corn Tortillas)

I love serving stuffed poblano peppers with warm homemade flour tortillas. Homemade tortillas take about 30 minutes of hands-on time and they are life changing.

I know that sounds dramatic. But, I'm kinda serious. It's one of those cases where homemade is so much better, once you make them, you might never purchase a package again.

3. Jicama Salad with Apples and Honey Lime Dressing

This jicama salad with apples is light, crisp, tart, and refreshing. It's quick and easy to make and packed with nutrition. It's the kind of thing you can make quickly for a light lunch or in large quantities for a summer cookout.

4. Pomegranate Margaritas

I have made these Pomegranate Margaritas for more dinner parties and get togethers than any other cocktail for three reasons:

1. They are super easy to make with ingredients that are always easy to find
2. The recipe can be scaled up or down - make margaritas by the pitcher or by the glass
3. It's the type of margarita that's a true crowd pleasing cocktail - the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and bitter that will please everyone

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• Black Bean Tomato Soup
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