Fettuccine with Poblano Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 poblano peppers (1 pound)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup low fat milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 16 ounces fettuccine pasta

Instructions

1. Heat the broiler. Place an oven rack 3 to 4 inches from the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Wet a clean kitchen towel and set aside.
2. Carefully make a slit lengthwise on one side of each poblano pepper. Remove the seeds and veins (if you want a little spiciness in your sauce, skip this step and leave the seeds and veins in the pepper). Place the poblano peppers on the foil-lined baking sheet.
3. Broil the peppers until they char and blister on one side. Using tongs, turn until all sides are equally blistered. Remove the peppers from the oven and wrap in the wet kitchen towel to cool. When cool, peel blistered skin downward from the stem. Discard peeled skin and stem. Chop the roasted peppers and set aside.
4. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
5. Heat the olive oil in a 2-quart saucepan on medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes or until onion is translucent, not brown.
6. Stir in the chopped roasted poblano peppers, milk and chopped cilantro. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Blend the sauce until smooth with an immersion blender. If you don't have an immersion blender, pour the sauce into a blender container. Remove the vent on the blender's lid. Place a kitchen towel over the vent. Hold your hand on top of the towel while you pulse the sauce until smooth.
8. Return the sauce to the saucepan if using a blender. Heat the sauce on low and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
9. Portion the cooked pasta onto plates and top with equal amounts of the Poblano Alfredo Sauce. You can also place the pasta in a large bowl and toss gently with the sauce. Garnish with additional cilantro if desired.