Grilled Chiles Rellenos With Corn, Goat Cheese, and Cilantro Sau

From New Mexico Magazine, June 2013. Vegetarian Southwest grilling. Make sure you get fat chiles, preferably poblanos, as fat ones are easier to stuff.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Cilantro Sauce

• 3⁄4 cup  chopped cilantro
• 1⁄2-1  fresh jalapenos or 1⁄2-1  serrano chili
• 3⁄4 cup  Mexican crema (crema preferred) or 3⁄4 cup creme fraiche (crema preferred) or 3⁄4 cup sour cream (crema preferred)
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt

• Cheese Filling

• 8  ounces chihuahua cheese, grated (or Muenster)
• 6  ounces  fresh goat cheese (or a combination) or 6  ounces cream cheese, softened (or a combination)
• 1⁄2 cup corn kernel (fresh or thawed frozen)
• 1⁄4 cup pine nuts, toasted in dry skillet
• 2  tablespoons  minced onions
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  minced fresh epazote (optional)
• 8  poblano chiles
•  vegetable oil cooking spray
•  chopped tomato (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare cilantro sauce. In food processor, mince cilantro and jalapeño very fine. Spoon in crema and salt, process again until well blended. Refrigerate until needed. (Sauce can be made 1 to 2 hours ahead, but after that the cilantro’s vibrancy begins to fade.).
2. Prepare filling, mixing together all ingredients in medium bowl. Cover and chill until needed. (Filling can be combined 1 day in advance, covered, and refrigerated.).
3. Fire up grill, bring temperature to medium heat (4 to 5 seconds with hand test).
4. Grill chiles uncovered 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally so that skin blackens and blisters all over. Place chiles briefly in plastic bag to steam as they cool.
5. When chiles are cool enough to handle, peel them, wearing rubber gloves if your skin is sensitive. Slit each chile from end to end and remove any loose seeds. Don’t remove seed pod or it will weaken chile walls. (Chiles can be prepared to this point a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Bring them back to room temperature before proceeding.).
6. Stuff chiles with filling, bringing slit edges of each chile tightly back together. Spritz chiles with oil. Return chiles to grill, slit side down. Grill uncovered 5 to 7 minutes, turning once, until filling feels quite soft. Serve chiles hot with drizzle of sauce and garnish of chopped tomato.