Green Chile Chicken Stew

We hope you like this homey easy-to-make feel-good Green Chile Chicken Stew as much as we do. We couldn't help ourselves and also "stole" some tips to help you create some delicious tummy-warming Green Chile Sauce yourself.

Since 1962, El Pinto Restaurant has been dishing up New Mexican dishes made from Josephina Chavez-Griggs' recipes, grandmother of current owners Jim and John Thomas. We hope you like this homey easy-to-make feel-good Green Chile Chicken Stew as much as we do. We couldn't help ourselves and also "stole" some tips to help you create some delicious tummy-warming Green Chile Sauce yourself. It's perfect for many recipes that require a sauce! So if you like some fire, use liberally. Or as John would say, "Chile makes you feel good." It sure does, John!

Perfect Tummy-Warming Green Chile Tips
During the green chile harvest in New Mexico, you'll see gas-powered chile roasters going almost non-stop. Most chile vendors and supermarkets offer roasting for a fee. It's worth it just to smell the aroma of the roasting chiles! But, you don't need an elaborate roaster to get good results. Here are some tips from El Pinto:

• Whether you get your chiles from the local supermarket or pick them fresh in the fields, select large, firm, meaty chiles with no sign of wilting. Wash before use.
• Slit each pepper lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds and membranes with a spoon. Some people don't remove the seeds before roasting, but we think they're easier to remove at this stage. By the way, when handling chiles, either wear gloves or coat your hands with vegetable oil, and don't touch eyes or other sensitive areas.
• If roasting the chiles indoors, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. A layer of foil makes for easier cleanup later. Place in the oven (4 to 5 inches from the broiler element). The skin will blister and turn black. Turn the peppers as required to blister all sides evenly. At this point, your kitchen should be filled with the mouth-watering aroma of roasting green chile!
• If it's a nice day outdoors, and if you have a good gas barbecue grill, you can roast your chiles that way. Arrange the peppers over high heat, turning as necessary to blister the skins evenly on all sides.
• Whichever roasting method is used, the pepper skins should be evenly blistered, mostly black. Cover the hot chiles with a damp kitchen towel for 15 minutes or so. This steams them and loosens the skins. (You can also use a plastic bag to steam the peppers, but let them cool a minute so the bag doesn't melt!)
• If you're having green chile for dinner tonight, the peppers are ready to use now. Just slip the skins off and stuff, chop, etc. Otherwise, package the cooled chiles in airtight containers for freezing. We think leaving the peppers whole and freezing with the skins on results in a better texture and flavor when thawed. When ready to use, thaw for a few minutes and the skins slip off easily. Drain on paper towels and you're ready to cook.

Josh Costanza

About the owners:Twin brothers, John Thomas Jr. and Jim Thomas, took over the family business in 1994 and since then have made El Pinto Restaurant the largest restaurant in New Mexico and made their salsa and green chile sauce available to chile lovers throughout the nation.

Jim Thomas is responsible for overseeing the El Pinto plant and restaurant facilities and is also involved in all marketing efforts. Jim holds a degree from The University of Arizona and full accreditation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Process Authority. Additionally, he is a registered compliance officer and is certified in many aspects of food production. Jim is a chile aficionado and knows everything about chile from the soil composition to the harvest and processing. While in the El Pinto Restaurant, he inspects every plate that goes out of the kitchen and tastes every batch of salsa that goes through the plant.

John spent two decades designing and building properties in Alaska where he developed skills in unique building structures and equipment operations. He studied structural engineering, business law and finance and is a licensed commercial building contractor. He oversees every project in the expansion and development of El Pinto Foods and the El Pinto Restaurant.

Both brothers are members of the National Restaurant Association, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, "Taste the Tradition," and the New Mexico Food Producers Association. They reside in their hometown of Albuquerque with their families.

El Pinto Restaurant
10500 4th Street NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87114
505-898-1771
www.elpinto.com

Green Chile Chicken Stew

Green Chile Chicken Stew is served at El Pinto Restaurant for $3.99/cup or $5.99/bowl. This recipe for Green Chile Chicken Stew is for a serving size of two.

This is a 2-part recipe:
Green Chile Chicken Stew
Green Chile Sauce

Green Chile Chicken Stew Ingredients
1/2 lb chicken tender or chicken breast meat cut into 1/4" pieces
2 cup chicken stock
1 cup medium sized red potatoes cut into 1/2" cubes
1 cup Green Chile Sauce (see recipe or substitute El Pinto Green Chile Sauce)
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup whole kernel corn (fresh or frozen)
2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
2 tsp granulated garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Green Chile Chicken Stew Steal This Recipe® step-by-step Instructions
1. Heat vegetable oil in a pot
2. Add flour and make into a roux for the stew base
3. Wisk in chicken stock so no lumps form
4. Add chicken, potatoes, garlic and green chile sauce
5. Bring to a boil
6. Simmer for 40-45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked
7. Add corn and bring back to a boil
8. Season to taste and serve with warm flour tortillas

Green Chile Chicken Stew
Nutritional Information by CookedApple.com
Calculated for a serving size of 1
Recipe yields 2 servings

Nutritional information for the recipe provided by CookedApple.com. The nutritional information supplied is to be used as a guideline only and will vary depending on the amount and variety of each ingredient used.