Super fast and easy stuffed poblanos adhere to keto diet

By Chris Ross / The San Diego Union-Tribune

Cookbook author Urvashi Pitre says she has struggled with her weight for years. Five years ago, she had weight loss surgery and committed to a low-carb ketogenic diet. She has lost 80 pounds and kept them off.

She shares 100 international keto-friendly recipes in her new cookbook, “Easy Keto in 30 Minutes,” including a number of dishes from her native India. There also are keto versions of popular dishes from Korea, Italy, the Middle East and Mexico.

This stuffed poblanos recipe from the book has an estimated 10-minute prep time and takes a mere six minutes to cook.

Find more of her keto recipes on her food blog, www.twosleevers.com.

Stuffed poblanos

Roasting the poblanos as you cook the ground beef makes this recipe move ahead lickety-split. Air frying is also an excellent way to roast these peppers. If you have time, you can roast the peppers whole and then stuff them whole. But this way works faster: just laying them flat and layering them with beef and cheese.

4 large poblano chiles, halved and seeded

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound 85% lean ground beef

1 tablespoon plus 1½ teaspoons taco seasoning

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

Fresh lime juice (optional)

Sour cream (optional)

Guacamole (optional)

Place an oven rack 6 inches below the broiler. Preheat the broiler on high.

In a medium bowl, toss the poblano halves with the oil. Arrange, cut side down, on a rimmed sheet pan. Broil until the outsides are charred and blistered, about 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the taco seasoning and the ¼ cup cilantro.

Fill each poblano half with ground beef and top with cheese. Arrange pepper halves on the baking pan. Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes.

Garnish with additional cilantro, if desired. Serve with a sprinkle of lime juice, sour cream and/or guacamole, if desired.

Even faster tip: You can prepare the poblanos and seasoned meat ahead of time and only assemble 1, 2 or all 4 halves as needed. You’ll need to reheat the pepper halves and meat in the microwave before stuffing the pepper halves, topping with cheese, and then broiling.

Makes 4 servings. Nutrition per serving: 409 calories; 27 grams total fat; 11 grams total carbs; 10 grams carbohydrates; 1 grams fiber; 1 gram sugar; 30 grams protein.