Rajas con Crema: Roasted Poblano Chiles in Cream Recipe
Rajas con Crema is a traditional Mexican dish featuring roasted poblano chiles sautéed with onions, garlic, and corn, then simmered in a luscious cream sauce with cream cheese, Mexican crema, and melted Oaxaca cheese. This rich and flavorful recipe is perfect as a side dish or served with warm tortillas for a comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Poblano Chiles
- 6 fresh poblano chiles
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 medium white onion, cut lengthwise into 1/4” slices
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz corn kernels
Dairy & Fats
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup Mexican crema (or sour cream or crème fraîche)
- 1 cup Oaxaca cheese, grated
Seasonings
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp ground cumin
Instructions
- Roasting Poblano Chiles: Roast the poblanos over an open gas flame on the stovetop, under the oven broiler, or on a barbecue grill. Turn them occasionally until the skins are charred and blistered, which takes about 10 minutes.
- Steaming and Peeling: Place the roasted poblanos in a bowl and cover with a kitchen towel or seal in a brown paper bag to steam for 5 to 10 minutes. Then peel off the charred skin carefully and slice the peppers into 1-inch strips.
- Sautéing Aromatics and Poblanos: Melt the butter in a saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until softened. Stir in the minced garlic, roasted poblano strips, corn kernels, kosher salt, black pepper, and ground cumin. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Adding Cream and Cheese: Lower the heat to medium and add the cream cheese and Mexican crema. Mix thoroughly and cook for about 5 minutes or until the cream mixture starts to bubble gently.
- Melting the Oaxaca Cheese: Sprinkle the grated Oaxaca cheese over the mixture, cover the pot, and turn off the heat. Let it sit covered until the cheese melts, creating a creamy and cheesy finish.
- Serving: Serve the dish immediately, accompanied by warm tortillas, tortilla chips, or as a decadent side dish.
Notes
- Oaxaca cheese is a stringy, melting cheese similar to mozzarella; if unavailable, mozzarella can be a substitute.
- For a vegetarian version, ensure that the butter and crema used are free of animal-derived additives.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with warm corn tortillas or tortilla chips for scooping.
Keywords: Rajas con Crema, roasted poblano, Mexican cream sauce, creamy poblano dish, side dish, Mexican recipe, Oaxaca cheese, poblano peppers
