CHILES EN NOGADA

One of the most famous dishes in Mexican food is "Chiles en Nogada". Tradition says that by the year of 1821, in the city of Puebla, México, the nuns of Santa Mónica´s convent were asked to prepare a dish to celebrate Don Agustín de Iturbide´s birthday (a mexican celebrity who became emperor of the independent Mexican Republic). Those nuns full of imagination and using over 20 different ingredients created this unique dish full of: flavor, color and contrast that has remain in the mexican culture since then. Because of the amount and quality of the ingredients, it is an expensive and seasonal delicacy that is mostly prepared by the months of August and September. The purpose was to prepare a dish which included the three colors of the mexican flag: the green of the "poblano" green pepper, the white of the "castilla" nuts, and the red of the "granada" fruit. So they stuffed the "chiles" with so many and contrasting ingredients such as meat, fresh fruit, green olives, capers, red peppers, tomatoes, dry fruit, almonds, pine seeds, etc. etc. Then they prepared a white and creamy nut sauce as dressing and sprinkle them with "granada" fruit. The result is an amazing, delicate, full of flavor dish I assure it´s a Gourmet experience.
Anyway, almost every mexican family have a recipe and so do I, every year I prepare over 30 "chiles" with my family recipe but this year I served them with a demi-sec Champagne and trust me: The pairing was delightful!!! So whenever you have the opportunity try them, I promise you won´t be disappointed.