What is Green Spaghetti?
Green spaghetti, known as espagueti verde in Spanish, is spaghetti that has been tossed in a creamy poblano pepper sauce. The sauce is made with roasted poblano peppers, Mexican sour cream, cilantro, and spices, which are blended until smooth. Once blended, the sauce is sautéed, so that it gets thicker before folding in the spaghetti.
Espagueti verde was a popular dish growing up in South Texas, especially at baby showers or backyard events, where it was typically served with mashed potatoes and milanesa de res. It wasn’t until recently, however, that I obtained the recipe from a college friend and had to give this recipe a shot myself! I found that it was surprisingly simple to make and full of flavor. Hope you enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Green Spaghetti
- Easy – This espagueti verde recipe is pretty easy to follow, making it a great side dish for weeknight dinners.
- Flavorful – Because of the fresh poblano peppers and cilantro, green spaghetti is amazingly flavorful, which will keep you and your family wanting seconds.
Recommended Tools for Making Espagueti Verde
- Baking Sheet – Use a sheet pan to roast your poblano peppers.
- Lidded Container – Place the poblano peppers in a lidded container after roasting to sweat for 10 minutes. This will make them easier to peel and deseed the peppers.
- Blender – Use a blender to get a smooth sauce to toss your spaghetti in.
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Green Spaghetti Ingredients
- Spaghetti – A pantry staple, spaghetti is a long, thin and cylindrical pasta that is perfect for holding sauces. Consider using a veggie pasta to make this dish healthier.
- Poblano Peppers – Poblano peppers are dark green chilies that are known for their rich, mild flavor. Roasting poblano peppers helps to enhance their flavor, making them a perfect ingredient for our pasta sauce.
- Cilantro – Also known as coriander, cilantro is a popular herb used in Mexican recipes. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, cilantro enhances the flavor of many dishes, including ceviche or as a topping for carnitas tacos.
- Sour Cream – Mexican sour cream is a rich, tangy dairy product that is thicker than standard sour cream. Its creamy texture helps to balance the flavors of the poblano peppers and cilantro.
- Chicken Bouillon – Another pantry essential, Knorr chicken bouillon is made from dehydrated chicken stock, salt, and spices. It’ll make our green spaghetti sauce even tastier!
- Pepper – Made from dried peppercorns, ground pepper will add heat and depth to our espagueti verde.
- Minced Garlic – Enhance the flavor of your poblano pepper sauce with minced garlic, which you should always have a jar of in the fridge!
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Green Spaghetti (Espagueti Verde) Recipe
Description
Learn how to make Mexican green spaghetti, also known as espagueti verde.
Ingredients
How to Make Green Spaghetti
-
Roast peppers
Add poblano peppers to a baking sheet, and broil on high for 10 minutes, flipping halfway.
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Steam peppers
Once the peppers' skin has blistered, place in a covered container or plastic bag to steam for 10 minutes.
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Cook spaghetti
Bring water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and boil for 10 minutes, draining once cooked.
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Deseed peppers
While spaghetti cooks, chop the cilantro, and peel off the peppers' skin. Use a knife to make a slit and remove the stem. Use a spoon to deseed the peppers and remove the veins. -
Blend ingredients
In a blender, add poblano peppers, cilantro, garlic, chicken bouillon, black pepper, sour cream, milk, and water. Blend until smooth. -
Sauté sauce
Transfer sauce to a large pan and sauté for 10 minutes. -
Combine ingredients
Mix spaghetti into sauce for 3 more minutes. -
Serve
Serve and enjoy!
Top with queso fresco, shredded mozarella cheese, or cilantro.
So creamy!