Rajas Poblanas con Elote y Arroz Rojo (Roasted Chilli Strips with Corn and Red Rice)
Charred poblano strips cooked with sweetcorn, onion and garlic, spooned over warm red rice and finished with avocado and lime.
Made with Mexican red rice (arroz rojo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.27 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
Heat the grill to its highest setting. Grill the poblanos for 12 to 15 minutes, turning, until the skins are blistered and blackened. Put in a bowl, cover with a plate and leave for 10 minutes.
23 min - 2
Peel off the skins, remove the stalks and seeds, and cut the flesh into strips about 1 cm wide.
- 3
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion for 6 minutes until soft and golden. Add the garlic and oregano for 1 minute.
7 min - 4
Add the sweetcorn and cook for 4 minutes until it picks up some colour. Stir in the chilli strips and a good pinch of salt and cook for 3 minutes.
7 min - 5
Meanwhile, warm your ready made arroz rojo (see the base recipe) in a covered pan with 3 tbsp water until steaming hot all the way through. Reheat chilled rice only once.
6 min - 6
Spoon the rice onto plates, top with the rajas, sliced avocado, coriander and a squeeze of lime.
Tips
- Do not wash the roasted chillies. Rub off the skin with your fingers or a piece of kitchen paper.
- The classic version has cream. For a vegan dish a splash of oat cream or extra avocado gives richness.
- Poblanos are mild. If you want heat, add one sliced jalapeño with the onion.
- Serve in warm tortillas for tacos de rajas.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour. Keep the rajas for up to 3 days in the fridge and reheat until steaming hot. Keep the rice for 1 day and reheat once.
Questions
What are rajas?
Rajas means strips. In Mexican cooking it usually means roasted poblano chillies cut into strips and cooked with onion, often with cream or cheese.
Can I use green peppers?
Yes. Large green peppers are the easiest swap in the UK. They are sweeter and milder, so add a fresh green chilli for the heat.
Is it vegan?
Yes, as written, with vegan arroz rojo. Everything is plant based.
More made with mexican red rice (arroz rojo)
Chuletas de Cerdo con Queso Chipotle y Arroz Rojo (Pork Chops with Smoky Queso)
GFEFNFBurritos de Carnitas con Arroz Rojo (Pork Carnitas and Red Rice Burritos)
DFEFNFBurritos de Birria (Birria Beef and Rice Burritos)
EFNFHPBurritos de Arroz y Frijol (Vegan Rice and Bean Burritos)
DFEFNFDouble 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.