Skip to main content

Creamed Rajas

A great filling for tacos or topping for any grilled meat, these creamy poblano strips (rajas) showed up on the table a few times a week while I was growing up. You can cream virtually any chile, but mild poblanos add the perfect amount of spice to any dish. My favorite pairing is with sweet Torta de Elote (page 153).

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 2 cups

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 2 ears)
6 poblano chiles, charred (see page 35), peeled, stemmed, seeded, and cut into strips
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup Mexican crema (page 70) or crème fraîche
1/2 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add the corn kernels and cook for an additional 3 minutes.

    Step 2

    Add the chile strips to the corn mixture and cook for 5 minutes, or until the corn is tender. Add the heavy cream and crema and cook for 8 minutes, or until bubbling. Add the cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Season the rajas to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot. (The rajas can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover, and refrigerate. Stir over medium heat until hot before serving.)

Fresh Mexico
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Baking meatballs and green beans on two sides of the same sheet pan streamlines the cooking process for this saucy, savory dinner.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.