Padrón Peppers Stuffed with Tetilla Cheese

Tender Padrón or shishito peppers stuffed with melty Tetilla cheese and served with a homemade garlic-lemon aioli sauce. This Spanish-inspired appetizer combines the mild heat of the peppers with creamy, rich cheese for an elegant tapas-style dish.

6 servings

52 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•4 cloves garlic cloves
•½ teaspoon salt
•2 large egg yolks
•3 tablespoons water
•2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
•1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
•1.0625 cup light fruity olive oil
•24 whole Padrón peppers or shishito peppers
•2 ounces Tetilla cheese

Cooking Instructions

1.
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.
22 min
2.
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.
10 min
3.
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.
15 min
4.
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.
5 min
5.
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.
6.
** Tetilla cheese is available at some supermarkets, at specialty foods stores, and online at latienda.com.
7.
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).

Cooking Instructions

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.

22 min

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.

10 min

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.

15 min

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.

5 min

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).