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Prep time
20 minutes
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Cook time
12 minutes
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Serves
2 to 4
Author Notes
These gooey, spicy, super-cheesy mini peppers are the perfect snack. With colorful peppers and spicy jalapeños, this dish is both savory and rich, with a subtle hint of sweetness. It’s best in late summer through early fall, when peppers are in season, but it's a crowd-pleaser year round: served at a Labor Day barbecue, as a snack during football season, or as a holiday appetizer to warm you up as the weather cools down. —Marissa Mullen
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Ingredients
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3
jalapeños, halved lengthwise, seeded
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3
mini sweet peppers, halved lengthwise, seeded
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1/2 cup
cream cheese
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1/2 cup
grated pepper jack cheese
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1 tablespoon
pickled jalapeño brine (or white distilled vinegar)
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1/4 teaspoon
chili powder
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1/4 teaspoon
garlic powder
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1/4 teaspoon
onion powder
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2
scallions, finely chopped
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1 tablespoon
chopped cilantro leaves
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1 tablespoon
crumbled cotija
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Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
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Store-bought tomatillo salsa, for serving (optional)
Directions
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Heat the oven to 400°F.
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In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, ¼ cup of the pepper jack cheese, jalapeño brine, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
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Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between the pepper halves.
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Sprinkle the peppers with the remaining ¼ cup of pepper jack and half of the scallions.
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Bake on an unlined sheet pan for 10 to 12 minutes, until melted. Broil on high for an additional 2 minutes until the cheese is browned and bubbling. (Alternatively, remove from the oven and use a small butane torch to brown the cheese.)
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Garnish with the fresh cilantro, remaining scallions and cotija. Serve with tomatillo salsa if desired.
Marissa Mullen is a Brooklyn-based food stylist, recipe developer, photographer and cheese lover. She is the founder of That Cheese Plate and creator of the Cheese By Numbers method. She is also the author of the best-selling cookbook, That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life, a step-by-step styling guide for crafting beautiful and delicious cheese plates as a form of creative expression. Featured on The Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Business Insider, Vox among others, Marissa is dedicated to bringing people together through creativity, food and entertainment.
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