Grilled Queso Panela With Roasted Tomatillo and Poblano Salsa Recipe

Updated March 21, 2019

The mild and fresh flavor of grilled queso panela is paired with a roasted tomatillo and poblano salsa. . Joshua Bousel

Queso panela may be semi-soft, but it keeps it shape when grilled. Its mild flavor gets a boost in this recipe from a fruity and tart tomatillo and poblano salsa along with an onion and cilantro topping.

Why this recipe works:

Queso panela keeps its shape when heated, allowing it to be grilled over direct heat.
Tomatillos and poblanos are charred before being pureed into a salsa to give the sauce a roasted flavor.
An onion and cilantro topping adds extra freshness and more texture to the final dish.

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Recipe Details

Grilled Queso Panela With Roasted Tomatillo and Poblano Salsa Recipe

Active 40 mins

Total 40 mins

Serves 4 to 6 servings

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Ingredients

For the Salsa:

2 small or 1 large poblano pepper (about 1/3 pound)
3 large tomatillos, husked, washed, and halved (about 1/2 pound)
1/3 cup packed roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
1 tablespoon fresh juice from 1 lime
1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic from about 1 medium clove
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and cayenne pepper, to taste

For the Queso Panela:

1 small yellow or white onion, finely diced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
12 ounces queso panela, cut into 1/2-inch slices
Corn tortillas, for serving

Directions

For the salsa: Preheat broiler. Roast poblanos over an open flame on a gas stove or grill until skins are completely charred. Place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand until cooled, 5-10 minutes. Peel off charred skins; remove stems and seed poblanos.
Meanwhile, place tomatillos, cut sides down, on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to broiler and cook until tomatillo skins have charred and flesh has softened completely. Transfer tomatillos to the jar of a blender along with poblanos, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic. Puree until very smooth. Transfer salsa to a small bowl and stir in sugar. Season with salt and cayenne pepper and thin with water, if necessary. Set aside.
Mix onion and chopped cilantro together in a small bowl; set aside.
Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Alternatively, set all the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Grill cheese slices until browned on both sides, 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from grill.
Place tortillas on grill and cook until warm and pliable, about 30 seconds per side.
Spread a layer of salsa on the bottom of a shallow dish or plate. Nestle cheese in salsa. Spoon onion and cilantro mixture on top and serve immediately with warm tortillas.

Special equipment

Blender, Grill

This Recipe Appears In

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
227	Calories
9g	Fat
29g	Carbs
9g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	227
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g	12%
Saturated Fat 5g	26%
Cholesterol 28mg	9%
Sodium 826mg	36%
Total Carbohydrate 29g	10%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 29mg	144%
Calcium 213mg	16%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 414mg	9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.