Rajas Con Queso Recipes

RAJAS CON QUESO GORDITA

Steps:

• Roast the poblanos and Anaheim chiles on a hot grill until charred. Let them sit in a sealed container for 10 minutes, then peel them and cut into strips.
• Heat the oil, then saute the onion with the jalapenos and serranos until soft, about 10 minutes.
• Blend the cream cheese with 3 cups water and add it to the pot of chiles. Add the roasted peppers, salt, pepper and cumin. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Fill Gorditas with finished product. Top with shredded cheese and serve with Refried Beans.
• For the gorditas: In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the flour, baking powder and salt; mix to combine. Add the shortening and mix for about 5 minutes. Slowly add the warm water and milk; mix until the dough is firm but soft and won't stick to your fingers. (You might not use all the liquid, or you might need to add more.) Let rest for 10 minutes.
• Portion the dough out into 2.2-ounce balls and refrigerate overnight.
• Press the dough balls into tortillas by hand. Toast the tortillas on a griddle over medium-high heat. Slice open the tortillas.
• In a pot over medium heat place pinto beans, salt and 6 cups cold water, and let simmer until softened, about an hour.
• In a pan, heat canola oil, then add 3 cups pinto beans (save the remainder for another use) and stir for about 5 minutes. Add warm water and let simmer, about 10 minutes. Use a hand blender to blend until pureed.

RAJAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Roast the chilies over an open flame or on a griddle until blackened but not charred. Wrap the chilies in a towel and place them in a plastic bag for about 10 minutes. Remove the chilies and with the help of a kitchen towel rub the skins off. The chilies should be firm. Cut them in 1/2-inch strips discarding all the seeds and the ribs. Do not rinse them. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chilies and the onions at the same time. Stir often. When everything is soft add all the sour cream and the chicken bouillon granules to taste. When the cream is hot turn off the burner and add the cheese. Cover immediately. Enjoy with warm tortillas and white rice.

POBLANO AND CHEESE TAMALES (TAMALES DE RAJAS CON QUESO)

Steps:

• Place corn husks in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Drain, place on a work surface, and cover with a clean, damp towel.
• Line a heavy cast iron grill pan or griddle with aluminum foil and place over high heat. Arrange poblano peppers in a single layer on top. Grill until chiles are blackened, turning as necessary, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer into a resealable plastic bag and let them steam, 10 to 15 minutes. Peel off skin, seed, and cut them into strips.
• Place tomatillos in a pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil and cook until they change color, about 5 minutes. Drain and place in a blender. Blend until smooth.
• Heat 1 tablespoon lard in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add blended tomatillos and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until flavors are well combined, about 5 minutes. Add poblano peppers and cilantro and boil for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, about 10 minutes.
• Beat remaining lard in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add salt and continue beating for a few minutes. Add masa harina and baking powder and beat well until combined. Add chicken broth, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough has a smooth and workable consistency that is not too wet, similar to cookie dough. Test if the masa is ready by dropping a small ball of masa into a glass of cold water; if it floats, it's ready, if not, keep working the dough a little longer.
• Select 1 wide corn husk or 2 small ones. Spread about 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the corn husk, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Add 1 tablespoon of the tomatillo sauce and a piece of Monterey Jack cheese in the center of the masa mixture. Fold sides of husk together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the husk over the seam of the 2 folded sides. Repeat with remaining husks.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the husk, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

RAJAS CON CREMA, ELOTE, Y QUESO (CREAMY POBLANO PEPPERS AND SWEET CORN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and add poblano peppers. Brush peppers with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
• Roast poblano peppers in the preheated oven for 20 minutes; flip and continue roasting until skin is charred and flesh is soft, about 20 minutes more.
• Place roasted peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap; let steam for 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully remove plastic wrap and peel the skins from the peppers and remove seeds and stems. Cut peppers into strips.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil; cook corn kernels until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add poblano pepper strips and corn; season with chicken bouillon granules and cook for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in cream and manchego cheese; simmer until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

RAJAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Cut peppers and onion into strips about 2 inches long and 1/2-inch thick.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat and saute peppers, onion, and corn until tender and starting to char, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Mix in Monterey Jack cheese, cotija cheese, and crema and cook until melted into a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

RAJAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Roast the chilies over an open flame or on a griddle until blackened but not charred.
• Wrap the chilies in a towel and place them in a plastic bag for about 10 minutes.
• Remove the chilies and with the help of a kitchen towel rub the skins off.
• The chilies should be firm.
• Cut them in 1/2 inch strips discarding all the seeds and the ribs.
• Do not rinse them.
• Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat.
• Add the chilies and the onions at the same time.
• Stir often.
• When everything is soft add all the sour cream and the chicken bouillon granules.
• When the cream is hot, turn off the burner and add the cheese.
• Cover immediately until cheese melts.