NYT Cheesy Green Chile Bean Bake
Entrees, Healthy, Quick
Ingredients
1 tablespoon neutral oil (such as grapeseed)
2 poblano chiles or green bell peppers, seeds and stem removed, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed
1 (16-ounce) jar salsa verde, or 1 3/4 cups homemade salsa verde
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves, stems reserved and finely chopped
1 1/2 cups/6 ounces grated Monterey Jack cheese
Lime wedges, for serving
Tortillas, tortilla chips, rice, a baked sweet potato or fried eggs
Description
This quick and easy skillet dinner is somewhere between an easy take on enchiladas verdes (no rolling required) and a complete-meal rendition of chile con queso. The base is a mixture of charred green chiles, pinto beans and store-bought or homemade salsa verde, which delivers the brightness of tomatillos, chiles, cilantro and lime. Blanket the bean-and-chile mixture with Monterey Jack cheese, then broil until molten. Serve with tortillas, tortilla chips, rice, a baked sweet potato or fried eggs. You could also add Mexican chorizo, bacon or spinach with the chiles, or leftover pulled chicken with the beans.
Directions
Arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat the broiler to high. (If you don’t have a broiler, see Tip.)
In a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the poblanos and cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
Stir in the beans, salsa verde and cilantro stems, and simmer until thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
Turn off the heat, sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top, then broil until melted and browned in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve right away topped with cilantro leaves and a squeeze of lime.
Notes
You can also melt the cheese on the stovetop. Set the heat under the skillet to low, cover the skillet, and cook until the cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
Nutrition
Trans Fat: 0 grams
Fat: 19 grams
Calories: 491
Saturated Fat: 9 grams
Unsaturated Fat: 8 grams
Sodium: 1793 milligrams
Sugar: 7 grams
Fiber: 15 grams
Carbohydrate: 54 grams
Protein: 27 grams