Welcome to Paulina Cocina! Come in and check out a very special recipe I want to share with you today: green spaghetti . A recipe that fuses two countries with world-renowned cuisine, yet is distinctly Mexican .
We're going to talk about creamy green spaghetti with poblano pepper . And no, don't worry... Of its chili cousins, it's one of the least spicy.
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Green spaghetti, a simple, nutritious and different pasta
Ideal for getting out of the ordinary and adding many benefits to our diet in a single preparation, these pastas are super easy to make, have a low cost and very simple ingredients .
Just a quick aside: if you're looking for a more classic recipe for homemade noodles, here's my recommended recipe for homemade noodles in 5 steps . And if you'd like, you can watch the video here .
Now, let's continue with Hulk's spaghetti. But let's cover a few more details before we get started.
Where does the recipe for green spaghetti come from?
When we talk about pasta, we immediately think of Italy. According to historical records, pasta was already used in Asia hundreds of years earlier, but it is said that it was Marco Polo himself who brought this product to Europe , and then Italy took it upon itself to make it its own, giving it many variations in preparation, shapes, and so on.
Therefore, it would be fair to say that spaghetti as we know it today—a thin, flat rope measuring approximately 25 to 30 centimeters—was created by the Italians.
Now, as for the green noodles themselves, it is believed to be part of the same variant exploration we mentioned above.
Is their green color a sign that they are healthy?
More or less, it depends on many factors, let's analyze this..
In addition to the benefits that spaghetti already has, such as protein, minerals, and some vitamins , in the case of green spaghetti, the color is due to the chlorophyll in the leafy vegetables used in the recipe.
Chlorophyll acts as an antioxidant and is a source of fiber, which improves digestion.
So yes, these spinach-like green noodles are healthier than eating classic pasta made with regular flour.
A fundamental ingredient, the poblano chili
Originally from Mexico, the poblano pepper is one of the most popular and widely used hot peppers in Mexican cuisine . They are commonly used in recipes that require stuffing.
They have a fairly distinctive flavor, although they aren't among the hottest chilies. This one is ideal for boosting the immune system . It's believed that its name comes from records of plantations of this chili in Puebla, Mexico , dating back more than 6,000 years.
Due to its flavor, which is suitable for all palates and its low spiciness, it is widely used in various recipes, one of which is the sauce that accompanies green noodles, a dish widely used both for everyday life and for special occasions.
How to make spaghetti at home
For each portion of homemade green spaghetti we need 1 egg, ½ cup of crushed spinach, 100 grams of 000 flour, 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt.
- First, we wash the spinach leaves thoroughly and place them in a pot of boiling water for one minute. After this time, we drain the leaves and blend them with a little water until we obtain a smooth mixture.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, eggs, and salt. Add the spinach mixture and continue mixing until you have a smooth dough.
- Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.
- We cover the dough with a cloth and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
- After the dough has rested, we will roll it out with a rolling pin until it is approximately 2 mm thick.
- Use a pasta cutter or knife to shape the green pasta.
Ready, you now have homemade green spaghetti to make this recipe.
What can you add to the recipe for green noodles with poblano pepper?
What makes this recipe so versatile is the ability to add many different ingredients. Seafood or chicken pieces for added protein, Parmesan cheese, fresh spinach leaves, etc.
It's important to emphasize that the meats must be pre-cooked before adding them to the sauce , even if it means skipping a little fat. This will prevent cross-contamination.
Adding other ingredients to traditional creamy green spaghetti with poblano pepper is the ideal way to continue adding nutrients to the recipe and adapt it to different types of diners.
An interesting variation: a recipe for green noodles with Philadelphia cheese and poblano pepper.
We already said that this recipe is full of flavors and vitamins, but if we also wanted to give it a different touch, we can do so with Philadelphia cheese.
The only change to the preparation procedure is to not add the cream to the pan, but rather whip it with the Philadelphia cheese in a separate container and add it to the sauce before adding the pasta.
This variant will give extra creaminess and extra flavor to your green noodles .
Now, let's get to know this delicious recipe. I can assure you it's super easy to make and takes little time. The only thing that will require a longer process is preparing the poblano pepper, so if possible, it's a good idea to prepare it ahead of time.
Green spaghetti recipe with poblano pepper
- Yields: 6 servings.
- Estimated preparation time: 30 minutes
Ingredients for mise en place
- Green spaghetti pasta, homemade or bagged: 500 grams (estimated at around 80 grams per diner).
- Cream cheese: 200 gr.
- Chile poblano: 4 units.
- White onion: ½ unit.
- Garlic cloves: 2 units.
- Butter: 90 gr.
- Milk: 1 and ½ cups.
- Cream: 1 cup.
- Chicken bouillon powder: 1 teaspoon.
- Coriander leaves: 1 handful.
Preparing poblano pepper
- Choose chiles in good condition and as whole as possible.
- Clean and dry the chiles, and place them over the direct flame of the stove at corona intensity.
- Roast the chiles until the skin turns black and begins to peel off, turning them and making sure they don't burn.
- Remove from heat and place in a sealed plastic bag with a kitchen towel on top to continue roasting for approximately 10 minutes.
- Once cool, remove from the bag and make a cut along the length of the chili to remove the core (stem and seeds).
- Peel the skin off the chili pepper by rubbing it with your hands or using a paper towel, making sure to remove all the skin before using it in your recipe.
(Do not touch your face or eyes when handling any type of chili as it is highly irritating.)
How to make creamy green spaghetti with poblano pepper
- Melt butter in a pan with a splash of oil to prevent it from burning.
- Add finely chopped onion and garlic and sauté for a few moments without allowing it to brown.
- Add the poblano pepper, cut into strips or chunks, and let the entire mixture cook for another 3 minutes.
- Off the heat, add the cream, milk, and cilantro to the pan. Blend until smooth.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 5 minutes, reserving some of the cooking water. After the required cooking time, drain the pasta and set aside.
- Mix the diluted chicken broth with two tablespoons of the cooking water in a cup.
- Return the pan with the sauce to the heat and add the diluted chicken broth. Heat for 1 minute over low heat.
- Add the freshly drained pasta and mix gently. Turn off the heat and serve.
