Rajas con Crema (Poblano Strips in Cream Sauce)

Roasted poblano strips, or rajas, are often served as a soft, saucy filling for warm corn tortillas, with their mild chilli flavour rounded out by onion and cream. In this version, the poblanos are blistered first so their skins peel away easily, then sliced and simmered with sweetcorn, garlic and softened onion. Double cream gives the dish its generous texture, while queso fresco adds a fresh, gently salty finish. It is rich without being heavy, mild rather than fiery, and well suited to a simple vegetarian dinner or a relaxed taco-style meal.
Cuisine style Mexican home cooking
Spice level Mild
Cooking style Make-ahead friendly
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Roasted poblano flavour: Blistering and steaming the poblanos softens the flesh and brings out their gentle smokiness.
  • Smooth, rich sauce: A short, gentle simmer with cream coats the pepper strips without making the sauce heavy.
  • Balanced savoury sweetness: Soft onion, garlic, sweetcorn and queso fresco give the dish sweetness, savouriness and a lightly salty finish.
  • Easy to serve: The creamy rajas work well spooned into warm corn tortillas or served as a rich vegetarian side.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Choose good poblanos: Look for firm, glossy poblano peppers; they roast more evenly and peel more cleanly after steaming.
  • Blister before peeling: The skins should be blackened in patches before the peppers are covered to steam, which makes peeling much easier.
  • Mind the cheese: Cotija can replace queso fresco, but it is saltier, so add it gradually and adjust the final seasoning carefully.

Common mistakes

  • Boiling the cream: Once the cream is added, keep the pan at a gentle simmer so the sauce stays smooth.
  • Under-roasting the poblanos: Poblanos that are not well blistered can be difficult to peel and may taste less rounded.
  • Letting the sauce get too thick: If the sauce tightens as it stands, warm it gently and loosen it with a small splash of water.

Make-ahead tips

  • Prep the peppers early: The poblanos can be roasted, peeled and sliced in advance, then added to the pan when you finish the dish.
  • Reheat gently: Warm leftovers slowly in a frying pan over low heat until piping hot, stirring often to keep the sauce even.
  • Warm tortillas separately: Keep the rajas and tortillas separate in storage, then heat the tortillas just before serving.

Authenticity notes

  • Home-style Mexican cooking: Rajas con crema is a familiar Mexican preparation built around roasted poblano strips and a simple creamy sauce.
  • Corn and cheese additions: Sweetcorn and a fresh, crumbly cheese are common additions that make the dish fuller and more rounded.
  • Serve with corn tortillas: Warm corn tortillas are a natural pairing, turning the creamy pepper mixture into soft, simple tacos.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Heat the oven to 230°C (445°F). Put the poblano peppers on a baking tray and roast for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until blistered and blackened in patches. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and leave to steam for 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, halve and thinly slice the onion. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, add the onion and 0.5 tsp of the fine sea salt, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Finely chop the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Peel the skins from the peppers, discard the stems and seeds, then slice into thin strips. Add the pepper strips and sweet corn kernels to the pan and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat. Pour in the double cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
  4. Simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce lightly thickens, then take the pan off the heat. Crumble in the queso fresco and stir just until warmed through; taste and season with the remaining fine sea salt if needed. Keep warm over very low heat while you warm the tortillas.
  5. Warm the corn tortillas in a dry frying pan over medium heat for about 20 to 30 seconds per side, or until pliable and lightly toasted. Serve the rajas con crema spooned into the warm tortillas. If the sauce thickens as it stands, loosen it with a splash of water and warm gently.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For easier peeling, make sure the poblano peppers are well blistered before steaming; the skins should lift away with minimal effort.
  • Keep the cream at a gentle simmer and avoid boiling once added, so the sauce stays smooth.
  • If serving to anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, ensure the sauce is heated until piping hot throughout.

Substitutions

  • Replace Double cream with Cooking cream for a lighter sauce; simmer a minute longer to thicken.
  • Replace Queso fresco with Cotija cheese for a saltier finish; add a little at a time and taste before adding extra Fine sea salt.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool the rajas con crema, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a frying pan over low heat until piping hot, stirring often; warm the corn tortillas separately just before serving.

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Rajas con Crema (Poblano Strips in Cream Sauce)
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 45min (30min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Allergens:
    Milk
Kid friendly

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