Make Ahead

Butternut Squash Stuffed Poblanos

by:
October 26, 2010
5
2 Ratings
  • Prep time 1 hour
  • Cook time 2 hours
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

I spotted a recipe for "Squash-Stuffed Roasted Poblano Peppers" seven years ago in Eating Well (Fall 2003) and was immediately smitten. I adapted the recipe to suit my preferences & pantry. Admittedly, it's a bit of a challenge, but I return to it every Fall when I can’t resist the shiny, green poblanos next to the smooth, caramel-colored butternut squash at the Farmer’s Market. The biggest challenge is keeping the poblanos intact during all the handling. The key is roasting them just the right amount, or a bit less. Not enough roasting, and removing the skin is tricky. But this is preferable to roasting too much, which makes the flesh fragile and prone to ripping.

Serve these stuffed poblanos with a dollop of sour cream to tame the heat of the pepper and a pile of tortilla chips for crunchy contrast. —Margiemic

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 small-medium butternut squash
  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 medium-large poblano peppers
  • 3/4 cup shredded Colby or Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
  1. Cut butternut squash in half and roast cut-side down on greased baking sheet in 400 degree F oven for about an hour, or until tender throughout. Scoop cooked squash into food processor and process till smooth. Measure 1 ½ cups of pureed squash into medium bowl (store any extra squash in refrigerator for another use).
  2. Add cornmeal, honey, butter, smoked paprika, oregano, and 3/4 teaspoon salt to pureed squash and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate squash mixture till poblanos are ready for stuffing.
  3. Roast poblanos in a 450 degree F oven, turning as necessary, until skin starts to blacken and blister all over, about 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer poblanos to bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 10 minutes.
  4. Use a paring knife to remove and discard skin from the poblanos, handling gently to keep poblanos intact. Don’t worry about any patches of skin that remain. Make one cut lengthwise in each poblano, from stem to tip. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out seeds without tearing the poblano. Discard seeds.
  5. Gently spoon about 1/3 cup of squash mixture into each poblano, filling each poblano about 3/4 full. Then add about 3 Tablespoons shredded cheese to each poblano. Close poblano by squeezing gently along slit. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  6. Put flour, egg, and breadcrumbs in 3 separate bowls. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt to flour. Triple dip each poblano in flour, then egg, followed by breadcrumbs. Heat olive oil in nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add poblanos and sauté for about 5 minutes or until coating is golden brown all over, carefully turning poblanos about halfway. Transfer poblanos to greased baking sheet.
  7. Bake poblanos at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes, until squash is hot throughout and cheese is melted. Remove poblanos from oven and cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve each poblano with scoop of sour cream.
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10 Reviews

Alison_B September 18, 2021
Delicious! I overcooked the peppers so they were a bit messy to stuff, but I refrigerated them for an hour before breading and that helped them hold together enough to bread and fry. Will definitely make these again.
 
stacey October 6, 2016
Delicious!!! Left overs were great too.
 
JoanG October 28, 2010
Yes! Yum!
 
friendlyoaks October 28, 2010
This is a must-try. Thanks.
 
mrslarkin October 27, 2010
This sounds really great! Thanks for the recipe.
 
TheWimpyVegetarian October 27, 2010
Love this! It's a great rif on chiles rellenos and especially like the fact they're baked, not fried. I stuff poblanos a lot after roasting and completely agree that the amount of roasting is so critical with these guys when it's time to peel them!
 
arielleclementine October 27, 2010
what a cool idea- love that these are baked, too!
 
nannydeb October 27, 2010
They look and sound delicious!
 
cheese1227 October 27, 2010
What a great vegetarian option. Thank you!
 
lastnightsdinner October 27, 2010
What a fun twist on chiles rellenos - yum!