If there’s one sauce to keep in your fridge at all times, it’s this Roasted Poblano Cream Sauce. Super creamy, bursting with smoky flavors, and perfect for topping on enchiladas, tacos, and eggs, you’ll be hooked after just one taste!
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Slice the poblano peppers in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides. Add the poblanos and onions to a baking sheet and toss with the oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange the peppers so that they are skin side up. Roast for 30 minutes.
Transfer the roasted peppers to a plastic bag or a bowl covered with plastic wrap. This allows peppers to steam and will loosen the tough outer skin. Once cool enough to handle, use your fingers to peel the skin away. Discard the papery skins.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Once melted, add the flour and whisk to form a thick paste. Cook for a few minutes until lightly browned. Then, slowly whisk in the chicken broth and cook for 5-10 minutes, until slightly thickened.
Add the creamy mixture to a blender or food processor along with the peeled peppers, roasted onions, sour cream, garlic, cumin and salt. Pulse until smooth. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
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Notes
Tips and tricks
Arrange the poblanos and onions skin side up in a single layer on the baking sheet, ensuring they aren’t overlapping or touching, to help them roast and blister evenly.
Always steam the roasted poblano peppers! Trapping the peppers with their steam is what helps loosen the tough outer skin.
To prevent lumps in your sauce, continuously whisk the roux while it’s cooking and blend the sauce in a high-speed blender or food processor.
If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few extra minutes until it reaches your desired consistency. If the sauce is too thick, add another splash of chicken broth to thin it out.
VariationsPut a spin on this recipe for poblano cream sauce with these delicious variations ideas:
Gluten-free version - Swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend instead.
Dairy-free version - Use vegan butter and swap the sour cream for dairy-free sour cream, coconut cream, or cashew cream. Looking for a vegan version? Use vegetable broth or vegan chicken broth instead of regular chicken broth.
Healthy add-ins - Consider blending a handful of fresh spinach, cilantro, parsley, or half an avocado into the sauce.
Flavor boosters - Squeeze in fresh lime juice for tang; swap the fresh garlic for roasted garlic for a deeper, sweeter flavor; or add a roasted jalapeño, a dash of cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, or a small amount of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a smoky, spicy kick.