Green Chile Pathiri with Pinon and Queso Fresco

Bread, Green Chile, Small Business Friends, Vegetarian Entrees
Green chile crepes are a non-traditional Indian pathiri made by layering crepes with roasted New Mexico green chiles, pinon, olives and queso fresco. mjskitchen.com @MJsKitchen

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[Jump to Green Chile Pathiri Recipe]

This Green Chile Pathiri (aka green chile crepes) is a dish that I have had in my head and have been wanting to make for a very long time. If you are not familiar with “pathiri”, it is an Indian dish made by alternating crepes with a sweet or savory filling. The crepes are normally made with rice flour and dipped in coconut milk or brushed with ghee during assembly. This process is very similar to the one I use for stacked enchiladas, just different ingredients.

For this Green Chile Pathiri, instead of rice flour crepes dipped in coconut milk, I made unbleached flour crepes then dipped them in egg when assembling. For the filling – roasted, whole New Mexico green chiles from my friends at the Hatch Chile Store, toasted pinon nuts, olives, and queso fresco. The result was such a wonderful fusion of cultures and flavors. And although it is time consuming, it isn’t difficult to make; therefore, it’s a dish you’ll want to make again and again.

Green Chile Pathiri with Pinon and Queso Fresco

Green Chile Pathiri - Layers of crepes with green chile, pinon, and queso fresco #greenchile #pathiri @mjskitchen

Green Chile Crepes

How to Make Green Chile Crepes
Prep
10 mins
Cook
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

A basic crepe recipe that can be used for many types of dishes.  This particular recipe adds green chile powder and an extra flavor and spice.

*See Kitchen Notes for more information.

Course: bread
Keyword: crepes, green chile
Recipe Author: MJ of MJ’s Kitchwn
Ingredients
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup AP flour*, sifted
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 1 tsp. green chile powder, optional
  • Butter or margarine (to coat the crepe pan before adding the crepes)
Instructions
  1. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl.
  2. Sift the flour, salt and green chile powder into a cup or small bowl. Whisk to combine.
  3. Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the eggs and whisk.
  4. Add some of the milk, whisk, more flour, whisk, more milk, whisk. Continue until all of the flour and milk have been incorporated into the eggs.
  5. Let rest for at least 30 minutes.*
  6. To make the crepes, slowly heat a crepe pan or 8 to 10 inch, nonstick skillet over medium low heat. When hot, coat with a touch of butter.
  7. Add ¼ cup crepe mixture to the pan and gently swirl to coat the pan with batter. (If the pan is too hot, the crepe mixture with splatter.)
  8. Cook for 45 to 60 seconds until light brown. Flip and cook about 30 seconds or until crepe starts to puff and becomes light brown on the other side.
  9. Place on a paper towel and cover to keep warm. I use a tortilla warmer with a paper towel inside.
Kitchen Notes

If you are going to use the crepes on the same day you make them, then prep the ingredients for the desired dish while the crepe batter rests, just to save time. The crepes can also be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

 

This is pretty much the same crepe recipe that I used for my Apple Pecan Crepes. However, in order to get thinner and lighter crepes, I decreased the amount of flour and increased the amount of milk.  If you are making a pathiri, it’s important that the crepes are as thin as possible to keep this dish from being heavy with thick crepes.

 

Green Chile Pathiri (Crepes) with Pinon Nuts and Queso Fresco

Green chile crepes are a non-traditional Indian pathiri made by layering crepes with roasted New Mexico green chiles, pinon, olives and queso fresco. #green #chile #pathiri @MJsKitchen

Green Chile Pathiri with Pinon Nuts and Queso Fresco Recipe
Prep
30 mins
Cook
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 
Wants something different for supper tonight?  Here’s a New Mexico / Indian fusion that will wake up your tastebuds – Green chile crepes layered with strips of roasted green chile pods, pine nuts and queso fresco.


*See Kitchen Notes for more information and links

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: New Mexico
Keyword: crepes, green chile, vegetarian
Recipe Author: MJ of MJ’s Kitchen
Ingredients
Ingredients for Green chile pathiri
  • 10 whole green chile pods* – roasted, stems and seeds removed, chile cut open and laid flat
  • 8 – 10 crepes (see the Green Chile Crepe recipe)
  • 6 Tbsp. toasted pinon (pine nuts)
  • 6 ounces queso fresco, crumbled*
  • 3 ounces Monterey Jack cheese*, grated
  • ½ cup finely chopped red onion
  • ½ cup chopped Kalamata or other black olive
Egg Dip Mixture
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. red chile powder optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 325° F.
Toasting the pinon nuts
  1. Heat a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Add pinon nuts. Slowly toast, stirring occasionally until lightly toasted. (Pinons do tend to stick to the pan more than other nuts so flipping them for an even toasting doesn’t always work. You’ll need to use a heat proof spatula of some type.)

Egg Dip
  1. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and chile powder.

  2. Pour into a pie pan or bowl large enough to dip the crepes.

Prepping ingredients
  1. The green chile – Open the roasted green chile and scrap out any remaining seeds.  If you want to eliminate the spiciness of the chile, remove the veins that run the length of the pods.

  2. Depending on the size of the green chile pods, you might need to cut each crosswise into 2/3 and 1/3 pieces. You don’t want the chile to extend past the crepes.

  3. Put all of the ingredients in separate bowls or separated on a plate for ease of assembly.

    Ingredients for Green chile pathiri with pinon and queso fresco. mjskitchen.com @MJsKitchen
  4. Melt a little bit of butter in a cast iron skillet large enough to for the crepes to lie flat but as close to the size of the crepes as possible.
  5. Move the skillet to the assembly area.
Assembly
  1. Dip a crepe into the egg mixture and let the excess run off.
  2. Place the crepe in the skillet. Top with a layer of chile (equivalent to one chile pod), a few pinon nuts, a few olive pieces, and a little of each type of cheese.

  3. Dip another crepe in the egg mixture and top with more of the same ingredients. Continue to stack the crepes and the ingredients until you’ve used up the green chile. You’ll use about 10 crepes and all of the nuts, olives and cheese.
  4. Top the last layer with another egg dipped crepe.
  5. Pour half of the remaining egg mixture over the top of the assembled pathiri.
  6. Bake @ 325° F for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and increase the temperature to 350° F. Pour the rest of the egg mixture over the top and return the skillet to the oven for another 20 minutes.
  7. Remove from the oven and let rest 5 minutes.
  8. Slice carefully with a very sharp knife.
  9. Serve with a simple side salad of lettuce and tomato.
Kitchen Notes

Roasted Green Chiles – Because this dish uses SO much chile, it’s important that the chile be flavorful and not too hot.  Therefore,  mild to medium green chile is best.  You could also use poblano chile in place of New Mexico green if that’s what you have available.  If you don’t have fresh or frozen green chile available, the use canned.  Just make sure that it is canned WHOLE pods.

 

Queso Fresco – The queso fresco was a subtle, but flavorful cheese for this pathiri, however, it doesn’t completely melt.  If you can’t find queso fresco, then substitute cotija cheese or a mild feta or feta-like cheese.

 

Red Chile Powder

 

Other notes and things I might do differently next time:

  • Don’t be tempted to chop the green chile.  You want to be getting pieces of chile in each bite.  However, using whole pods does make it challenging to cut, so be sure to use a very sharp knife so you can cut through the chile rather than pull it out from between the crepes as you cut.
  • The queso fresco doesn’t melt much, therefore, the grated Monterey Jack is used to help hold the layers together.
  • Some pathiri recipes say to flip, but by baking it in the oven in a cast iron skillet, it browned up nicely and there was no need to flip it.
  • The standard New Mexico salad of tomatoes and lettuce is a great accompaniment to this pathiri.  It doesn’t need much more than that.

 

 

Green chile stacked with crepes, pine nuts (pinon) and queso fresco. mjskitchen.com @MJsKitchen

As with any dish that uses a lot of green chile, the chile is the star of the show; therefore, I’d like to thank the Hatch Chile Store in southern New Mexico for the wonderful Hatch green chile that went into this dish. The chile was meaty, spicy, and extremely tasty. Even though it came frozen, it tasted like freshly roasted green chile.

This Green Chile Pathiri would be great for Sunday brunch, Meatless Mondays, or for any meatless meal.

If you are looking something a little more New Mexican, you might try my Christmas Pathiri or Stacked Crepes with Red and Green Chile. It’s a “lighter enchilada”.

For more recipe that use New Mexico green chiles, check out my green chile category.

This dish was developed for a Daring Cooks Challenge. Cooks were challenged to create our own version of this inspirational Indian dish. What a great challenge because it inspired me to create this delicious dish.

80 Comments

  1. Pingback: Green Chile Recipes - MJ's Favorites | MJ's Kitchen

  2. Pingback: Stacked Crepes with Chicken and Red and Green Chile (Christmas) | MJ's Kitchen

  3. Such a cool idea. I know the French making a similar dish but this one could be gluten free if you needed to make it that way. Pinned. Thanks for bring this to Weekend Bites.

    • Thanks Diane! Yep, it would be really easy to make this gluten-free buy making GF crepes, or even really thin corn tortilla. I think that’s coming next. 🙂

  4. I’ve never tried Pathiri before, and it was fun reading this recipe, MJ! The layers are so beautiful and neat!

  5. Wow! I’m loving this recipe, MJ. I’ve never heard of pathiri and you version is so imaginative. I love the fusion of your southwest flavors! Beautiful photos as well. Gonna keep this recipe to try!

  6. I have never heard of a Pathiri, but now I want one. Love your version, all the flavors together are my favorite. Thanks for being descriptive in the recipe, and for sharing some substitutions. Your recipe looks amazing, Hugs, Terra

  7. It may have taken a while to put together but the taste of your pathiri must have been terrific with your green chilies and queso fresco. The photo of the slice is great.

  8. Oh, my. Crepes, cheese and peppers? This pathiri looks amazing!!!

  9. Pingback: 17 Reasons Why You Should Be Curious About Pathiri | What's On The List?

  10. Goodness, I’ve never heard of a pathiri – thanks for introducing me to it. It looks just fantastic. I’m going to pin it so I’ll remember about it later because I bet my wife would love this too!

  11. Sorry, MJ, to have been absent for so long. I just realized that something is amiss. I’ll spare you the details but suffice it to say that I’m no longer getting notification of your posts. I’ve tried to unsubscribe and subscribe again in an effort to clear things up. I’;ll find out soon enough and will try to remember to check here for posts, in the meantime.
    Anyway, this sure is a great-looking dish, MJ. I’ve never made crepes but this dish may tempt me to give them a try. I like, too, your suggested changes. As good as it looks, I bet seeing it ooze melted cheese would up the appeal factor by 10!

    • Hey John!!! Sorry to learn that you’re having problems with your subscription. I’ll send you a private email and make sure things have been fixed. Thanks for your comments on the pathiri. It’s a really fabulous dish!

  12. MJ this is beautiful and wow does it sound tasty. What a creative recipe and so full of flavor. I wonder if you added a touch of milk or cream to the queso fresco and put it on the stove you’d get it to melt and then add it like a thick sauce. Do you think that would work?

    • Thanks so much Vicki! Originally, I was thinking of using a bechamel sauce in place of the egg dip, but changed because I thought it might be too heavy. I love your idea of just using melted queso fresco in cream. Need to try that next time. Thanks!

  13. I am part of the crowd that has never heard to pathiri. I love Indian food. But the closest Indian restaurant is an hr or more away. So it’s a treat for me. I also love crepes. This version did fit perfectly with what you did with it. It looks fancy and special. Plus what a wonderful conversation piece as well, when you are serving it.

    • Thanks so much Carol! You are so right – it definitely makes a great conversation piece as well as an awesome meal. 🙂

  14. I almost didn’t click on this there it goes chili again. I cannot eat chili peppers, my gut won’t like it, but this dish looks fascinating, sweet and savory and in layers, how brilliant! Your photos as always amazing Peach Lady

    • I’m so glad you decided to come by as always Zsuzsa! I can see some of your favorite ingredients being used as the filling of a pathiri. Thanks for your sweet comments on the photos! 🙂

  15. You took a really challenging dish and made it look just divine. Way to rise to the challenge!

  16. I am enjoying the fusion element of this dish as well as the depth, heartiness and I imagine how much fun this recipe is to devour x

  17. Wow! Pathri can be a very tough dish to make, and looks like you have done marvelously!! This looks so flavorful….and the chilies…OMG, I am dying to have a bite.

    • Thanks so much Minnie!! You obviously have make one before. I didn’t really find it “hard”, but it was very laborious – but well worth it. 🙂

  18. An ultimate fusion dish example! I want to make pathiri now too. Just love your own creation with your local flavors.

  19. I love your twist on the classic Pathiri. I had heard of this dish but never come across a recipe. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  20. This is a great looking dish, MJ. I love crepes! What a great and tasty looking dish xx

  21. Wow, MJ, this looks incredible! I love your version of Pathiri — and there was never any doubt in my mind what direction you would take it in ;-). That second photo really shows off the layers gorgeously! It must be seriously delicious, am I right? (not a leftover to be found? 🙂 ).

    • Yep – when she said to make one that reflects your tastes, it wasn’t hard was it? 🙂 And yes, it was seriously delicious! It was so big and filling that it did make two meals for Bobby and I, but that was great because it made the amount of effort to make it well worth it.

  22. G’day What a GREAT combination MJ!!! Well done and thank you soooooooooooo much for completing this month’s Daring Kitchen Cooks Challenge! It was a pleasure being host and let’s look forward to next month’s challenge too!
    Thank you!
    Great photos!
    Cheers! Joanne

  23. Pathiri is a new dish to me and I love your version — you nailed the challenge! Now I’m really craving these crepes:)

  24. I am pining away for this, green chillis and I are best friends 😀
    It looks flaky and wonderful!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  25. I have never heard of pathiri, but now I don’t think I will forget it! This crêpe layered cake looks gorgeous (I hope you don’t mind my down-to-earth comparison but it makes me think of a savoury spicy birthday cake….). I am sure if I ever make it I won’t post it because I cannot imagine obtaining such an aesthetic result. Gorgeous!

    • Of course I don’t mind you making that comparison. In fact, I love it! Thanks! Oh Sissi, don’t cut yourself short. You do a beautiful job with all of your dishes. It took quite an effort to come out with these results, and it was worth it.

  26. PERFECT for Sunday brunch. I am a lover of pine nuts and everything about this pathiri makes me happy.

  27. Wow! Just look at that..looks so inviting..very innovative dear.

  28. Wow, a lot of chili’s in your dish. We’re not used to use that much around here. That would be a challenge for us :-). Love your photos it sure looks great!

    • Yep – there is a lot of chile in this dish. 🙂 We eat a lot of chile here in New Mexico and we eat it in large quantities. 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comments Andrea!

  29. This is fascinating dish. I never heard the word pathiri before either. Looks interesting and beautiful as well.

  30. Wow MJ,
    I am beyond impressed! This dish looks phenomenal!

  31. Your pathiri looks perfect, MJ. I can’t wait to give it a try too!

  32. woooooooow… your pathiri looks delicous!! And the pics are beautiful!!!

  33. Believe it or not I’ve never had Pathiri before since I hail from North India but it sounds absolutely delicious with some lovely flavors!!!

    • Thanks Soni! The pathiri is obviously not a dish that’s found all over India. But I know it’s going to become a common dish here in my New Mexican home. 🙂

  34. This crepe and chili pathiri looks amazing. I am sorry for not having visited in a while… I think I need to resign up to your blog… I have not been getting my usual email notifications. 🙁 Now I must see what I have been missing….

  35. So many bold flavors! I love this stuck of different layers!

  36. I love Indian food but I’ve never had pathiri before but I would say. . . that is an amazing stack of deliciousness there. Have a good week MJ. 🙂

  37. Zena Thomas

    This looks beautiful and sounds delish! Thanks for this great recipe, I have green chili in my freezer and can’t wait to try this.

  38. Another great use for that stash of green chile powder.

  39. Wow! This looks so fabulously delicious! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I would love to bite into this right now…thanks for sharing! I seriously have to make this one!

  40. Pathiri is common dish on north kerala, my home state, I like your fusion, Lovely.

  41. Wow, what a creative dish! I love anything Indian so this is really appealing. Love the fusion going on in this recipe — really good stuff. Thanks so much.

    • Thanks so much John! There were some really creative pathiris made for this challenge. I’m sure you’ll run into some of them in your surfing.

  42. I love your filling choice – the colors AND flavors are compelling. Yes to including black olives next time (though I’d be tempted to make corn tortillas instead of crepes).

    • Thanks so much Dee! I actually tried making the crepes using masa but it was a total failure so I decided to stick with flour and it turn about great! I love your pathiri!

  43. I am an Indian myself and I had no idea that it is an Indian dish. Pathiri looks wonderful and yes, I am sure it would taste really good. Looks like I have to make Pathiri soon!

    • Thanks Purabi! I didn’t know it was Indian until I saw the challenge either. 🙂 I always referred to it as stacked crepes. I can see that India is like the U.S. – different regions have different dishes.

  44. I absolutely love this, MJ. I’ve never heard of a pathiri, and you’ve made me very curious about this dish. I’m pinning right now to make it your way. I love the variety of southwestern dishes you do with chiles !!

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