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Poblano Cream Sauce Recipe

4.4 from 144 reviews

This creamy and flavorful Poblano Cream Sauce combines roasted poblano peppers with a rich blend of butter, flour, chicken broth, and sour cream. Perfect as a sauce for meats, vegetables, or enchiladas, this sauce delivers a smoky, slightly spicy, and luscious texture that elevates any dish.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Roasted Peppers and Vegetables

  • 3 poblano peppers (about 1 pound), sliced in half lengthwise and seeded
  • ½ onion, rough chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Cream Sauce Base

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Roast the Poblano Peppers and Onions: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the poblano peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place the peppers and roughly chopped onions on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange the peppers skin side up and roast in the oven for 30 minutes until tender and slightly charred.
  2. Steam and Peel the Peppers: Once roasted, transfer the poblano peppers to a plastic bag or cover a bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Allow them to steam for a few minutes; this loosens the tough outer skin. When cool enough to handle, gently peel the skin off the peppers with your fingers and discard the skins.
  3. Prepare the Roux: While the peppers cool, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add flour and whisk continuously to form a thick paste. Cook this roux for a few minutes until it turns a light golden brown, which develops a nutty flavor.
  4. Add Chicken Broth: Slowly whisk in the chicken broth to the roux, ensuring no lumps form. Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until it thickens slightly into a smooth and creamy base.
  5. Blend the Sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine the roasted peeled peppers, roasted onions, prepared cream base, sour cream, garlic cloves, cumin, and salt. Blend or pulse until the sauce becomes completely smooth.
  6. Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately as a sauce for enchiladas, grilled meats, or vegetables, or refrigerate for later use.

Notes

  • Roasting the poblanos properly is key to developing the smoky flavor of this sauce.
  • Removing the skin after roasting reduces bitterness and creates a smoother texture.
  • This sauce can be thinned with additional chicken broth if a thinner consistency is desired.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
  • Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Keywords: poblano cream sauce, roasted poblano sauce, Mexican sauce, creamy chili sauce, enchilada sauce