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Roasted Poblano-Cilantro Salsa for Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 20, 2011

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 1/2 cup)

Roasted Poblano-Cilantro Salsa for Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs

Ingredients

2 medium poblano chile peppers1 bunch cilantro, washed, stems trimmed, and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)½ cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted1 garlic clove, peeled3 tablespoons lime juice (2 limes)½ teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup water

Before You Begin

This recipe must be made in tandem with our Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe (related).

Instructions

  1. While oven preheats in step 1 of Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe (related), place poblano peppers in bowl. Cover bowl and microwave until peppers are slightly softened, 2 to 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Place poblanos in center of 12-inch square of aluminum foil. Cover with second 12-inch square of foil; fold edges together to create packet about 7 inches square. Roast packet as directed in Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe.
  2. While chicken is resting, peel, core, and seed poblanos. Process poblanos, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, garlic, lime juice, sugar, and salt until finely ground, about 5 seconds. With food processor running, slowly add water in steady stream until sauce is smooth, scraping down bowl as necessary.
Roasted Poblano-Cilantro Salsa for Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs

Roasted Poblano-Cilantro Salsa for Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 1/2 cup)

Ingredients

2 medium poblano chile peppers
1 bunch cilantro, washed, stems trimmed, and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
½ cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 tablespoons lime juice (2 limes)
½ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup water

Ingredients

2 medium poblano chile peppers
1 bunch cilantro, washed, stems trimmed, and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
½ cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 tablespoons lime juice (2 limes)
½ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup water

Ingredients

2 medium poblano chile peppers
1 bunch cilantro, washed, stems trimmed, and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
½ cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 tablespoons lime juice (2 limes)
½ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup water

Why This Recipe Works

Though our Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe makes for a tasty meal in itself, we found that an accompanying sauce is a great way to jazz it up. Starting with poblano peppers gave our Roasted Poblano-Cilantro Chutney recipe a mellow bite, and cilantro added freshness.

Before You Begin

This recipe must be made in tandem with our Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe (related).

Instructions

  1. While oven preheats in step 1 of Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe (related), place poblano peppers in bowl. Cover bowl and microwave until peppers are slightly softened, 2 to 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Place poblanos in center of 12-inch square of aluminum foil. Cover with second 12-inch square of foil; fold edges together to create packet about 7 inches square. Roast packet as directed in Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe.
  2. While chicken is resting, peel, core, and seed poblanos. Process poblanos, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, garlic, lime juice, sugar, and salt until finely ground, about 5 seconds. With food processor running, slowly add water in steady stream until sauce is smooth, scraping down bowl as necessary.

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