PADRóN PEPPERS STUFFED WITH TETILLA CHEESE

Padrón Peppers Stuffed with Tetilla Cheese image

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_.

Provided by José Andrés

Yield Makes 8 appetizer servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves, peeled, halved lengthwise, center germ removed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon light fruity olive oil
24 Padrón peppers or shishito peppers*
2 ounces (about) Tetilla cheese**

Steps:

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.
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).