Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr
Makes 6 servings.
INGREDIENTS
- for chiles
- 12medium to large fresh poblano chiles (2 1/4 lb)for tomato sauce
- 1(14- to 16-oz) can whole tomatoes including juice
- 3large garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/4cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4teaspoon sugar
- 1/4teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 2tablespoons olive oilfor goat cheese sauce
- 1cup heavy cream
- 2teaspoons dried epazote* (optional)
- 8oz soft mild goat cheese
- 1/4teaspoon salt, or to tastefor spinach filling
- 4(3/4-lb) bunches spinach, coarse stems discarded
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4cup raisins
- 1/4teaspoon salt, or to tasteto assemble dish
- 3tablespoons olive oil
- 6(6-inch) corn tortillas, halved
- 1cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if cannedspecial equipment:a 2- to 2 1/2-quart shallow flameproof casserole dish (about 2 inches deep; not glass)
-
garnish: toasted pine nuts
DIRECTIONS Prepare chiles:
Lay 4 chiles on their sides on racks of gas burners and turn flames on high. Roast chiles, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened and chiles are tender, 4 to 6 minutes. (Or broil all 12 chiles on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat, turning, until skins are blackened, 8 to 10 minutes.) Transfer immediately to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Roast remaining 8 chiles in same manner, then let stand 20 minutes.
When cool enough to handle, peel chiles, then open flat and discard seeds and stems, wiping with paper towels or dunking in a bowl of water briefly, if necessary, to remove seeds. If chiles taste very spicy, cut out ribs with scissors to make them milder.
Make tomato sauce:
Purée tomatoes with juice, garlic, cilantro, sugar, and salt in a blender. Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then add sauce (be careful of splattering) and simmer, stirring, until thickened and reduced to about 1 cup, about 6 minutes.
Make goat cheese sauce:
Gently simmer cream, with epazote if using, in a small heavy saucepan, covered, 10 minutes. If using epazote, pour cream through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and discarding epazote. Return cream to pan. Whisk in goat cheese and salt and heat over low heat, whisking until smooth.
Make spinach filling:
Blanch spinach in batches in a large pot of boiling salted water 1 minute, transferring with a slotted spoon to a large bowl of cold water to cool. Drain in a colander, pressing on spinach with back of a spoon to remove excess water, then coarsely chop.
Heat oil in cleaned nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté spinach and raisins, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in salt and transfer filling to a plate.
Fry tortillas and assemble dish:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Heat oil in cleaned nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry tortillas 2 halves at a time, turning over once, until just crisp, about 1 minute total. Transfer tortillas to paper towels to drain.
Spread 1/4 cup tomato sauce over bottom of casserole dish. Arrange half of tortillas on top, then spread another 1/4 cup tomato sauce on top and sprinkle evenly with black beans. Arrange 4 poblanos flat over black beans to cover, then spread half of spinach filling evenly over chiles and drizzle with 1/4 cup goat cheese sauce. Make another layer with 4 chiles, remaining spinach filling, and another 1/4 cup of goat cheese sauce, then cover with remaining 4 chiles.
Cover chiles with remaining tomato sauce, spreading evenly, then top with remaining tortillas. Cover tortillas with remaining goat cheese sauce, spreading evenly.
Bake lasagne, covered with foil, in middle of oven until bubbling and heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.
Preheat broiler. Remove foil and broil about 3 inches from heat until top is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes.
Cooks’ notes:
• Chiles can be roasted and peeled 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Tomato sauce, goat cheese sauce, and spinach filling can be made 1 day ahead and chilled separately, covered. Reheat goat cheese sauce before proceeding.
• Lasagne can be assembled (but not baked) 1 hour ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
* Available at Latino markets and Kitchen/Market (888-468-4433).
