Padrón Peppers Stuffed with Tetilla Cheese

Padrón Peppers Stuffed with Tetilla Cheese
Padrón Peppers Stuffed with Tetilla Cheese
Serve the peppers, salad, and empanada together, tapas style, then follow with the stew and the pancakes. Or, if you prefer, serve the peppers as an appetizer and the salad as a first course. Follow with the stew, the empanada, and the pancakes. Keep in mind that the heat of the peppers varies widely—some are mild, others are hot. The heat is tamed by Tetilla cheese, a creamy cow's-milk cheese from Galicia, and a garlicky mayonnaise that's inspired by Spanish allioli.
  • Preparing Time: -
  • Total Time: -
  • Served Person: Makes 8 appetizer servings
Spanish/Portuguese Cheese Egg Pepper Appetizer Vegetarian Dinner Bon Appétit Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 large egg yolks

Preparation Mash garlic and salt in medium metal bowl with pestle or back of spoon until paste forms. Whisk in egg yolks, 3 tablespoons water, lemon juice, and mustard. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) and whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 140°F for 3 minutes, 6 to 7 minutes total. Remove bowl from over water. Cool mixture to room temperature, whisking occasionally, about 15 minutes. Gradually whisk 1 cup oil into yolk mixture in very thin slow stream, whisking until sauce is thick. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. Cover and chill. Cut slit lengthwise down side of each pepper. Cut cheese into small rectangular pieces to fit inside peppers. Insert 1 piece cheese into each pepper; press to enclose. do ahead Sauce and peppers can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers to skillet; cook until browned in spots and cheese melts (some cheese may ooze out of peppers), turning occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes. Arrange peppers on platter. Serve with sauce for dipping. Padrón peppers can be found at farmers' markets and at latienda.com; shishito peppers can be found at some farmers' markets and at Japanese markets. ** Tetilla cheese is available at some supermarkets, at specialty foods stores, and online at latienda.com. What to drink: Verdejo, a white wine from the Rueda region (southeast of Galicia), has enough acidity and body to stand up to the peppers and the cheese. José recommends the Bodegas Naia 2006 Naiades ($29). If you can't find that bottle, try the 2008 Vidal Soblechero "Viña Clavidor" Verdejo ($13). Test-kitchen tip:If you can't find Padrón or shishito peppers and Tetilla cheese, use mini bell peppers and jalapeño Jack cheese.Per serving: 294.2 kcal calories, 94.3 % calories from fat, 30.8 g fat, 5.3 g saturated fat, 58.0 mg cholesterol, 2.0 g carbohydrates, 0.4 g dietary fiber, 0.7 g total sugars, 1.5 g net carbohydrates, 2.5 g protein Nutritional analysis provided by Bon Appétit

Preparation Mash garlic and salt in medium metal bowl with pestle or back of spoon until paste forms. Whisk in egg yolks, 3 tablespoons water, lemon juice, and mustard. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) and whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 140°F for 3 minutes, 6 to 7 minutes total. Remove bowl from over water. Cool mixture to room temperature, whisking occasionally, about 15 minutes. Gradually whisk 1 cup oil into yolk mixture in very thin slow stream, whisking until sauce is thick. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. Cover and chill. Cut slit lengthwise down side of each pepper. Cut cheese into small rectangular pieces to fit inside peppers. Insert 1 piece cheese into each pepper; press to enclose. do ahead Sauce and peppers can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers to skillet; cook until browned in spots and cheese melts (some cheese may ooze out of peppers), turning occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes. Arrange peppers on platter. Serve with sauce for dipping. Padrón peppers can be found at farmers' markets and at latienda.com; shishito peppers can be found at some farmers' markets and at Japanese markets. ** Tetilla cheese is available at some supermarkets, at specialty foods stores, and online at latienda.com. What to drink: Verdejo, a white wine from the Rueda region (southeast of Galicia), has enough acidity and body to stand up to the peppers and the cheese. José recommends the Bodegas Naia 2006 Naiades ($29). If you can't find that bottle, try the 2008 Vidal Soblechero "Viña Clavidor" Verdejo ($13). Test-kitchen tip:If you can't find Padrón or shishito peppers and Tetilla cheese, use mini bell peppers and jalapeño Jack cheese.Per serving: 294.2 kcal calories, 94.3 % calories from fat, 30.8 g fat, 5.3 g saturated fat, 58.0 mg cholesterol, 2.0 g carbohydrates, 0.4 g dietary fiber, 0.7 g total sugars, 1.5 g net carbohydrates, 2.5 g protein Nutritional analysis provided by Bon Appétit