New Mexicali Green Chile Cheese Kugel Recipes

THIRTY-LAYER GREEN CHILE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• For the pasta: Mound the "00" flour on a clean work surface and make a well in the center. Crack the eggs into the well and beat with a fork. Add the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Slowly work the flour from the edges of well into center until a dough ball starts to form. Knead for 3 to 5 minutes, until very smooth. Wrap in plastic and let rest at room temperature for 30 min.
• Divide the dough into four pieces and cover with a damp towel. Using a pasta roller set to the thickest (widest) setting, roll one piece of dough out into a sheet. Fold the sheet in half and pass it through the roller again on the same setting. Reduce the setting and repeat, rolling and folding the dough and passing it twice through the machine before going to the next setting. Continue in this manner until the thinnest setting has been used. Repeat with rest of the dough.
• Let rest on a baking rack for 10 to 15 minutes, until the moisture is reduced by about half.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the cheese sauce: Add the butter and all-purpose flour to a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring continuously, until blond and smooth. Whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Add the mustard, hot sauce and cheeses, slowly at first; cook, whisking, until smooth and combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• For the green chile puree: To a blender, add the olive oil and the sherry vinegar, garlic, shallot and chiles. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble dish: Bring 4 cups salted water to a boil. Cut the pasta sheets to fit a buttered 10-inch square casserole dish. In batches, cook the pasta sheets for 1 minute in the boiling water; immediately submerge in an ice bath to stop cooking.
• Spread a ladleful of cheese sauce in the bottom of the casserole dish; arrange pasta sheets on top to fit the dish. Ladle in more cheese sauce, just to cover, then liberally spread with green chile puree. Cover with more pasta sheets. Repeat the layers all the way to the top of the casserole dish. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top.
• Bake until golden brown and delicious, and the center has reached 160 degrees F, about 15 minutes.

GREEN CHILE CHEESEBURGER DELUXE

Steps:

• Make the salsa: In a medium bowl, mix together onion, tomato, salt, Serrano chile and cilantro. This salsa tastes best when it's fresh, so don't set aside for too long.
• Prepare a charcoal barbecue or light the broiler. When hot, roast the chiles.
• Place chiles on a rack very close to the glowing coals, or on a baking sheet quite close to broiler flames. Using tongs, turn chiles occasionally until they are completely black and blistered all over. Alternatively, roast over stovetop flames. Set roasted chiles aside for a few minutes until cool enough to handle.
• Cut each chile in half lengthwise, then scrape away skins and seeds with a pairing knife. Do not rinse: A few bits of char are fine. Wipe chile "fillets" with a paper towel if you wish. Slice cleaned chiles lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips and set aside. (It's fine to roast chiles in advance, even a day or two ahead.)
• Divide ground meat into 6-ounce balls, and press them into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Season patties on both sides with salt and pepper.
• If grilling over coals, cook burgers over brisk heat, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Add sliced cheese when the burger's juices start appearing. Move burgers to a cooler spot on the grill and let cheese continue to melt.
• If cooking on stovetop, heat a cast-iron pan or ridged grill pan over high heat. When hot, cook burgers over brisk heat, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Add sliced cheese when the burger juices start appearing. Turn off heat and let cheese continue to melt, or place pan under broiler.
• Place a cheeseburger on the bottom half of each bun. Adorn each burger generously with strips of roasted chile. Top the burgers with buns and serve immediately, accompanied by avocado slices and tomato salsa.

POTATO KUGEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Melt the schmaltz (or heat the oil) in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, thyme and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs and transfer the onions to a large bowl; add the potatoes and chives. Gently stir the mixture together.
• Whisk the eggs and salt in a medium bowl. Pour evenly over the potato mixture and fold in to combine. Spread and press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake until the kugel is set and you see the sides become a deep golden brown through the glass baking dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle each portion with more chives.

CHARD AND CARAMELIZED SHALLOT NOODLE KUGEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 2-quart oval baking dish with olive oil. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add enough salt so that the water tastes like the sea. Add the noodles and cook 2 minutes less than the package directions. The noodles should be firm-tender. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, and then drain the noodles. Let the noodles and pasta water cool slightly. In a large bowl whisk the eggs with the broth and pasta water until smooth. Add the noodles and nutmeg and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, without stirring, until the edges are browned, about 5 minutes. Stir the shallots and continue to cook, stirring, until well browned. Add the chard stems, garlic 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the stems are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chard leaves and a splash of water and cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool slightly and then stir in the dill.
• Add the chard mixture to the noodles and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Place the baking dish in a large roasting pan and add enough water so it comes up the side of the pan about one-third of the way.
• Carefully transfer to the oven and bake until the center is set, about 1 hour 20 minutes, tenting the kugel with foil when the noodles are golden brown and crisp. Let stand at least 5 minutes. Garnish with dill. Serve hot or at room temperature.