Queso Fundido with Oyster Mushrooms and Poblanos

The traditional topping for queso fundido is chorizo, a spicy pork sausage, but this vegetarian-friendly version swaps it out with a flavourful blend of oyster mushrooms and poblano peppers seasoned with garlic and smoked paprika. Oyster mushrooms offer a delicate texture and earthy flavour that is the perfect counterpoint to the melty richness of the cheese.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Isabelle from Crumb: A Food Blog.

Prep Time: 10 mins. | Cook Time: 10 mins. | Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large poblano chili, seeded and cut into strips

4 oz oyster mushrooms, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ tsp smoked paprika

3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

3 green onions, thinly sliced

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 425F.

2. In a small cast-iron skillet over medium heat, sauté the poblano pepper in olive oil until it starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic, and continue cooking until the mushrooms are softened and lightly golden, about 5-7 minutes longer. Remove skillet from heat, and stir in the smoked paprika.

3. Sprinkle half of the cheese into a small cast-iron skillet or a small oven-safe casserole dish. Spoon the cooked chile and mushroom mixture onto the cheese in an even layer, then sprinkle with green onions and jalapeno. Top with the remaining cheese. (Depending on the size of your skillet, it may look dangerously full at this point. If so, push down gently on the cheese to cram it all in there… trust me, it’ll all melt down in a few minutes anyway, so fill that skillet right up to the brim.)

4. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and well browned on top. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro, and serve immediately with lots of tortilla chips for dipping.