Ingredients
3 poblano peppers
1 small red onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
Olive oil
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup baby spinach, sliced into thin strips
1 ½ cups Arborio rice
Crushed black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
~ ½ cup parmesan cheese
~ 1 cup queso fresco, crumbled
Preparation
Roast the poblano peppers under the broiler set on hi for about 10 minutes- 5 minutes per side. When they come out of the oven, cover them with a clean dishtowel and let them sit for a while- at least 5 minutes, but more is ok. Once cool enough to handle, skin each pepper, remove the seeds, and then chop the peppers and keep nearby. Heat the chicken broth in a saucepan. In a saucepan or deep skillet over medium-high heat, add 2-3 tbsp olive oil. Sauté celery, onion, and bay leaf for ~ 10 minutes until softened. Add chopped poblanos, and sauté for 3-4 more minutes. Add rice, and sauté until opaque- about 2 minutes. Add broth by the ladleful until the rice is covered. Increase heat to high, and allow broth/rice/etc to boil, stirring frequently. Add crushed black pepper to taste. As broth level drops below rice, add more by the ladleful. Cook rice at the boil for 15 minutes- rice should still be firm to the bite. Add spinach and cook for about 4 more minutes, stirring frequently the whole time. Take skillet/saucepan off heat. Add butter, parmesan, and queso fresco, and stir vigorously for 30 sec- 1 minute. Serve.
