Espagueti Verde, or Mexican Green Spaghetti, is a delightful pasta dish that will quickly become a family favorite. Imagine the comfort of classic spaghetti combined with a vibrant, creamy sauce made from roasted poblano peppers. This recipe delivers a unique and flavorful experience, offering a delicious twist on your usual pasta night. If you’re looking to spice up your dinner routine, this Espagueti Verde recipe is the perfect way to introduce authentic Mexican flavors to your table.
White plate showcasing Mexican Green Spaghetti, topped with cheese and cilantro, highlighting the creamy green sauce and noodle texture
What is Espagueti Verde?
Espagueti Verde translates to “green spaghetti” in Spanish, and it perfectly describes this dish. Unlike traditional tomato-based pasta sauces, Espagueti Verde features a luscious green sauce primarily made from poblano peppers. These mild chili peppers are roasted to bring out their smoky flavor and then blended with aromatic ingredients like onion, garlic, and cilantro, along with creamy additions such as Mexican crema and cream cheese. The result is a velvety, flavorful sauce that coats spaghetti beautifully, creating a comforting and surprisingly sophisticated pasta dish. It’s often compared to Alfredo sauce but with a distinctly Mexican flair.
Key Ingredients for Authentic Espagueti Verde
The magic of Mexican Green Spaghetti lies in its fresh and flavorful ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of the key components:
- Poblano Peppers: The star of the show! Poblano peppers provide the base for the green sauce. Their mild heat and slightly smoky flavor, enhanced through roasting, are crucial to the dish’s unique taste.
- Mexican Crema: This adds a signature tang and creaminess. If you can’t find crema Mexicana, sour cream or crème fraîche can be substituted, though Mexican crema offers a distinct, less sour profile.
- Cream Cheese: For extra richness and a velvety texture, cream cheese is blended into the sauce, making it incredibly smooth and satisfying.
- Aromatics: Onion, garlic, and cilantro are essential for building the flavor base of the sauce. They provide depth and freshness that complements the poblano peppers perfectly.
- Bouillon: Chicken or vegetable bouillon enhances the savory notes of the sauce, adding umami and complexity.
- Spaghetti: The classic pasta choice, spaghetti, works wonderfully to soak up the creamy green sauce.
Casserole dish filled with Espagueti Verde, illustrating a family-style serving option and the dish's rich green color
Step-by-Step Recipe for Delicious Mexican Green Spaghetti
Making Espagueti Verde at home is easier than you might think! Follow these simple steps to create this flavorful pasta dish:
1. Roast the Poblano Peppers
Roasting the poblano peppers is a crucial step that unlocks their best flavor. Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare the Peppers: Wash and dry the poblano peppers.
- Roast: There are several methods for roasting:
- Gas Stove: Place peppers directly on the grates over an open flame. Use tongs to turn them until the skin is charred and blistered on all sides.
- Broiler: Place peppers on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and broil on high heat in your oven. Turn them with tongs frequently until charred.
- Grill: You can also fire roast them on a grill for a smoky flavor.
A baking tray with four poblano peppers ready for roasting, demonstrating the initial step of charring the peppers for the sauce
2. Steam and Peel the Peppers
After roasting, steaming the peppers makes peeling them much easier:
- Steam: Place the roasted peppers in a zip-lock bag or a bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap. Let them steam for 5-10 minutes.
- Peel: Once steamed, the skins will loosen. Peel off the blackened skin, remove the stems and seeds.
Close-up of four roasted poblano peppers showing the charred skin, emphasizing the result of the roasting process
Roasted poblano peppers steaming in a ziplock bag, illustrating the steaming process to facilitate peeling
Hands peeling the skin off a roasted poblano pepper, showing the ease of peeling after steaming
3. Make the Creamy Green Sauce
Now it’s time to blend the roasted poblanos into a creamy sauce:
- Blend Ingredients: In a blender, combine the peeled roasted poblano peppers, cilantro, roughly chopped onion, Mexican crema, cream cheese, garlic cloves, chicken bouillon cube, and ½ cup of milk or reserved pasta water.
- Blend until Smooth: Blend all ingredients until you achieve a completely smooth and creamy sauce.
A blender containing the ingredients for Espagueti Verde sauce, ready to be blended into a smooth green sauce
4. Cook Spaghetti and Combine
The final steps involve cooking the spaghetti and bringing everything together:
- Cook Spaghetti: Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté Spaghetti: Drain the spaghetti and toss it with butter or olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Combine Sauce and Pasta: Pour the green sauce into a large pot and heat over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Once simmering, add the cooked spaghetti and stir to coat every strand with the sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, use the reserved pasta water or a little extra milk to reach your desired consistency.
Tips and Variations for Your Espagueti Verde
- Spice it Up: For a spicier kick, add a serrano or jalapeño pepper to the blender along with the poblanos. You can roast them for a milder heat or add them raw for more intensity.
- Make it Lighter: To reduce richness, you can use less cream cheese or even omit it altogether. The sauce will still be creamy but slightly lighter. You can also thicken the sauce with avocado for a healthier alternative.
- Sneak in Veggies: Boost the nutritional value by adding a few handfuls of baby spinach to the blender. It’s a great way to incorporate extra greens without significantly altering the flavor.
- Protein Boost: Espagueti Verde is delicious on its own as a vegetarian meal, but you can easily add protein. Sautéed shrimp, grilled chicken, or even shredded rotisserie chicken would be fantastic additions.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your Mexican Green Spaghetti hot, garnished with crumbled Cotija cheese and fresh cilantro for an extra layer of flavor and texture. It’s a perfect main course for a weeknight dinner or a casual weekend meal. Pair it with a side salad or some crusty bread to complete the meal.
Nutritional Information (Approximate)
Per Serving (Yields: 8 servings):
- Calories: 233
- Total Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
- Sodium: 275mg
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Protein: 6g
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
Enjoy Your Homemade Mexican Green Spaghetti!
This Espagueti Verde recipe is a wonderful way to explore Mexican cuisine beyond the usual tacos and enchiladas. The creamy poblano sauce is unique, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make. Gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and get ready to enjoy a truly special pasta dish that will impress your family and friends!
