Beef

June's Chile Relleno Casserole

April 22, 2010
5
3 Ratings
  • Serves 8-10
Author Notes

I still have this recipe card written in my mother's hand. It's all the more poignant because she was a quadraplegic for the last 14 years of her life. Before that, she was a prolific and renowned cook and entertainer, throwing legendary parties at UC Santa Cruz where my father was provost. This dish reflects her Chicana heritage and is a real crowd-pleaser. I hope you make it and think of her fiery Latin spirit and love of the good life. —gluttonforlife

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 3 cans fire-roasted whole green chiles (21 ounces)
  • 1/2 pound sharp cheddar, grated
  • 1/2 pound Monterey jack, grated
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 13-oz can evaporated milk
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup enchilada sauce (choose the spice level you desire)
  • 3 cups diced cooked meat (leftover chuck roast is perfect)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup pepitas
  • 3/4 cup raisins
  • 1 apple, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large sautee pan and cook onion and garlic until lightly browned. Add cooked meat, pepitas, raisins, apple and beef stock and cook until softened and well melded. Set aside.
  3. Combine enchilada sauce and tomato sauce in a bowl. Combine two cheeses in another bowl.
  4. Split chiles and discard stems and seeds. Line a deep baking dish with a layer of chiles, then a layer of the beef mixture, then a layer of the cheeses. Continue until you use all ingredients, reserving enough cheese for a top layer.
  5. Combine milk, eggs and flour, and season with salt and pepper. Beat until foamy and pour over everything. Bake until set, about 30 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and cover with combined tomato and enchilada sauces. Top with layer of grated cheeses. Return to oven and bake until bubbling and browned, another 30-45 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit 15 minutes before serving.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • NakedBeet
    NakedBeet
  • gluttonforlife
    gluttonforlife
  • brownhut
    brownhut

3 Reviews

brownhut March 19, 2011
how much garlic do you use? Instruction #2 says cook onion with garlic, but garlic isn't on the ingredient list.
 
NakedBeet April 22, 2010
This looks like a great homey recipe. I take it that milk doesn't really kill any of the heat? ; ) Looking forward to scaring myself with this one.
 
gluttonforlife April 23, 2010
It's as spicy as you make it with the enchilada sauce; green chiles are mild. Let me know if you make it...