Arroz Poblano (Poblano Rice with Crema)
Fluffy rice cooked in a blended poblano and coriander sauce, with sweetcorn and a cool lime crema on top.
Made with Lime crema (Mexican soured cream sauce). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.06 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Grill the peppers until blistered, then peel, deseed and chop. Rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear, then drain well.
15 min - 2
Blend the peppers, chopped onion half, garlic, coriander and 150 ml of the stock until smooth and green.
- 3
Heat the oil in a wide pan with a lid. Fry the drained rice for 3 minutes, stirring, until it smells nutty and looks chalky. Add the sliced onion for 2 minutes.
5 min - 4
Pour in the green purée and the remaining stock, stir in a good pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Scatter over the sweetcorn.
- 5
Cover, reduce to the lowest heat and cook for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid. Turn off the heat and rest, still covered, for 10 minutes.
25 min - 6
Fluff with a fork. Serve topped with your ready made lime crema (see the base recipe) and the crumbled cheese.
Tips
- Rinsing and frying the rice before adding liquid keeps the grains separate instead of sticky.
- Measure the liquid carefully. The blended purée counts as liquid, so keep to the stock amount given.
- Cool leftover rice within 1 hour and refrigerate. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly, cover and chill within 1 hour. Keeps 2 days in the fridge and reheat once only until piping hot. Do not freeze with the crema.
Questions
Can I use brown rice for arroz poblano?
Yes, but it needs about 100 ml more stock and 35 to 40 minutes of cooking. Rest it covered for 10 minutes at the end.
Is arroz poblano the same as green rice?
They are close. Arroz verde is coloured with coriander and green chilli, while arroz poblano is built on charred poblano pepper and is usually served with crema.
Can I make this dairy free?
Yes. Leave off the cheese and use a plain dairy free yoghurt mixed with lime juice and salt instead of the lime crema.
More made with lime crema (mexican soured cream sauce)
Huaraches de Frijol con Salsa Verde y Crema (Bean Huaraches)
GFEFNFCalabaza Asada con Mole y Crema de Lima (Roast Squash with Mole)
GFEFNFTostadas de Tinga de Setas (Mushroom Tinga Tostadas)
VEFNFPapas Asadas con Carne Asada (Loaded Baked Potatoes, Norteño Style)
GFEFNFSee every dish made with lime crema (mexican soured cream sauce)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.