Kitchen Notes

Pasilla-Dipped Grilled Cheese

Makes 1 sandwich

The inspiration for this melty, messy sandwich is the pambazo, a classic street food dish from Mexico City. The bread absorbs all of the rich flavor of the chilies, which acts as a refreshing balance to the melted cheese. Serve with lots of napkins!

Rich in concentrated in flavor, the pasilla is an amazingly versatile chili. Originally cultivated in central Mexico, the pasilla is just as at home in a light fish stew as it is in a rich mole. Plus, it’s widely available dried.