Whether it’s a cozy football Sunday, a relaxing weeknight dinner, or a house party with pals — I’m always on the lookout for comforting, crowd-pleasing dishes aside from the usual wings and dips. Rajas con crema is an indulgent hit and functions great as a dip, side, or even main meal!

Rajas con crema is a beloved Mexican dish featuring zingy poblano peppers and a rich cream sauce. I first had this served to me when in ‎⁨Urique⁩, ⁨Chihuahua⁩, ⁨Mexico⁩ when visiting the Copper Canyon. When I asked the chef, he gladly gave me the recipe and this is my version. It’s super simple to make, incredibly versatile, and all-around delicious. 

It’s a great substitute for tapas party classics like Beef Queso Dip or Spinach and Artichoke Dip, or it can even be served as a main entrée with zesty, bold flavors similar to a Beef Enchilada Casserole. 

Whether you serve it as a robust party starter or as a sumptuous Mexican-inspired dinner, this recipe will cost very little and take hardly any time to toss together. Watch the video below and see how to make these!

Description of Rajas con Crema

Rajas in English means “slices or strips”, and con crema means “in cream”.  Because the side dish is almost always made with poblano peppers, it also goes by the name rajas poblanas.

After roasting poblano peppers, we cut them into slices and stir them into a creamy white cheese sauce. The sauce is rich and seriously delicious, made with Mexican crema, onions, corn, garlic, and plenty of cheese!

INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS

• Poblano Chiles – In this recipe, you’ll roast and slice fresh poblano peppers into rajas, or “strips,” similar to how classic pepper and onion dishes are served in America. Poblanos are milder chiles, and once mixed with cream and cheese, they aren’t very spicy at all — though they offer plenty of robust flavor! Use jalapeños if you’d like something spicier.
• Cream Cheese – Melted down, this is the base for a thick, rich cream sauce. 
• Mexican Crema – This classic dip is a creamy, tangy concoction similar to sour cream. You can substitute with sour cream, which is a bit thinner, or crème fraîche, which is a bit thicker.
• Oaxaca Cheese – Also known as “quesillo,” this creamy cheese melts easily, making it ideal for this recipe. This cheese has a similar texture and taste to stringy mozzarella, so you can use mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or Chihuahua cheese as substitutes. Be sure to shred the cheese well so that it melts evenly throughout the dish.
• Corn – This adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the dish, balancing the zesty peppers with bites of sweetness. It also makes the whole dish reminiscent of tangy, creamy Mexican street corn. Feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
• Onion – When cooked, onions naturally boast a robust, sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with peppers. Substitute with onion powder or bell peppers for a similar effect.
• Cumin – This adds a warm, earthy, and slightly citrusy note to the dish. Substitute with coriander, caraway, or paprika.

HOW TO MAKE RAJAS CON CREMA

1. Roast your poblanos. Use a gas stovetop, broiler, or grill to roast and char the chiles over a flame. Get them nice and smoky, turning occasionally until they are blistered.

2. Let them steam. Once the poblanos are nicely charred, let them steam either in a bowl covered with a cloth or in a brown paper bag — about 5 to 10 minutes. Then, peel the skin and slice the chiles into 1-inch strips.

3. Get your ingredients simmering. After melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add onions and cook them until they’re soft. Add in your poblanos, garlic, corn, and seasonings. Let everything cook together for a few minutes, stirring often to combine nicely.

4. Make it cheesy. Add your shredded cheese, cover your pan, and turn off the heat. Let the dish sit covered until the cheese is perfectly gooey and melted.

5. Serve. Serve this cheesy dish while it’s hot with tortillas or tortilla chips. Or, add cooked, shredded chicken or beef to serve this as a hearty entrée.

Options for Roasting Chilis for Rajas con Crema

Gas Grill

1. With your grill preheated to about 450°F, place the poblanos directly on to the grill grates. 
2. Use tongs to flip each pepper occasionally, until the skin blackens and bubbles. This takes 2-3 minutes on each side.

Gas Stove Top Burner

1. Place one or two poblano peppers directly over the open gas flame set to medium heat. 
2. Use tongs to turn each pepper occasionally, until the skin blackens and is bubbly all over.

Oven Broiler (Or Toaster Oven Broiler)

1. Position an oven rack 6 inches below the broiler, then preheat the oven (or toaster oven) broiler to 500°F. 
2. Place whole, uncut peppers on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Broil, turning occasionally, for 10 minutes, until all sides are black.

There is also the option of roasting poblano peppers on a sheet pan in a 450° oven, but it does take a bit longer. Depending on the size of them and how many you are roasting, it can take as long as 40 minutes.

To shorten the roasting time, you could cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds, then roast them cut side down on the pan.

Roasting Poblano Peppers in an Air Fryer

1. Lightly spray peppers with oil and place them into the air fryer basket.
2. Use the highest setting on your air fryer and set the cook time to 6 minutes. After the first 6 minutes, use tongs to turn the peppers over and set time for another 6 minutes. 
3. Continue cooking and turning them until the peppers are black and bubbly all over.

Want other ideas for using poblanos?

Poblano peppers are one of the ingredients in Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Suiza and Green Enchilada Sauce. They are also used in recipes for Mexican Poblano Corn Chowder, and Stuffed Green Peppers.

FAQ and Recipe Notes

Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, store them in a covered container in the fridge and use them up within 3 to 4 days. Unfortunately, cream sauces and cheese sauces don’t freeze well.

Reheating
To reheat the rajas con crema, place the contents in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until it’s warmed through. Avoid using high heat, as the consistency of the sauce will become grainy. For the same reason, avoid reheating the leftovers in a microwave.