Chile en nogada (chili in walnut salsa). A joyfully an emblematic dish

Let's explore the joy of preparing and tasting a classic chile en nogada with chefs Charo Fernández and Manuel Mondragón.

1 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The joy of the chile en nogada begins when you look at it: white walnut salsa covers the chili like a garment, the red pomegranate and green parsley decorate it in perfect harmony. Talk about Chile en Nogada it's refer to traditions and legends around it, since its importance goes beyond being just a dish; it is also a legacy.

2 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The joy continues with the first mouthful, when the magnificence of the flavors and textures of the mixture can be tasted—a combination of Creole peach, manzana panochera (panochera apple) and Creole pear, fruits that, together with the poblano chili, walnut and the pomegranate, only come together in one season.

Here we see chef Charo Fernández surrounded by the ingredients for the preparation of the chile en nogada (chili in walnut salsa): poblano chili or chili de tiempo; Creole peach, manzana panochera (panochera apple), Creole pear and plantain; almonds and raisins; beef and pork; tomato, garlic and onion; salt, pepper and cinnamon; shortening; flour and eggs; walnut, milk, cream, goat's cheese, sugar and sherry; pomegranate and parsley.

3 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The poblano chilis or chili de tiempo, with firm, stretchy flesh are ideal for filling.

They are put directly over the flame to burn the skin, then they are sweated and the skin is removed. They are also deseeded.

4 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The husks are removed from the almonds after soaking.

For the chili, the meat is chopped, not ground.

5 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Charo removes the seeds from the tomato to prevent them from making the mince bitter.

6 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Chef Manuel Mondragón and Charo chop the fruit. The flesh of the Creole peach withstands cooking without breaking up; the manzana panochera (panochera apple) does not peel during cooking; the Creole pear combines well with the various fruits of the mince and the plantain gives a sweet flavor.

7 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The chefs fry the fruit in shortening, as well as the meat with tomato, garlic, onion and almonds.

The mince is seasoned with salt, pepper and cinnamon.

8 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The cooked mince is spread out on a tray to cool down and to have the correct consistency.

9 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Manuel, with the right serving of mince, stuffs the chilis. Once stuffed, they are wrapped.

10 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Charo separates the yolks from the whites, beats them until they are stiff and combines the yolks one by one.

11 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The chilis are immersed in the beaten egg to be fully covered before frying.  

12 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The already-battered chilis are fried in oil. When the egg is cooked and golden, it is removed from the flame.

13 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The fried chili is drained and placed on absorbent paper to remove the excess oil.

14 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Charo with the ingredients to prepare the nogada (walnut salsa): walnut, cream, milk, goat's cheese, sugar and sherry, which he grinds in the blender.

15 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The walnut, with the husk already removed, is soaked in water so that it does not oxidize when it is time to grind it.

Here we can see the nogada (walnut salsa) to cover the prepared chili.

16 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The chilis are placed on Talavera dishes.

The walnut salsa covers the served chili.

17 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The deseeded pomegranate and with the leaves removed from the parsley, garnished and tasty, are ready to be arranged on the chilis.  

18 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Charo sprinkles the pomegranate on the chili that is already bathed in nogada (walnut salsa).

19 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

The chiles en nogada (chilis in walnut salsa), already on Talavera dishes, are served at the table.

20 El Chile en Nogada un platillo emblematico para el gozoCocina Cinco Fuegos

Manuel, Lilia and Charo, preparing to taste the chiles en nogada (chilis in walnut salsa), a delicious delicacy.

Credits: Story

Curator: Lilia Martínez y Torres 
Chefs: Charo Fernández y Manuel Mondragón 
Photographers/Creators: Lilia Martínez y Torres y Loreto Morales Palacios

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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