🌶️ Ema Datshi (Chili Cheese Stew)

 


🍽 Serves: 2–3

⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes

⏱ Cook Time: 15 minutes

🧂 Ingredients

  • Green chili peppers – 10–15 (large, mild to medium spicy, e.g., Anaheim or banana peppers)

  • Red chili peppers – 3–5 (optional for color or added heat)

  • Garlic – 4 cloves, thinly sliced

  • Onion – 1 medium, sliced thinly

  • Tomato – 1 medium (optional), diced

  • Cheese – ½ cup (preferably Bhutanese datshi cheese or substitute with feta, farmer's cheese, or processed cheese like Laughing Cow or mozzarella + feta)

  • Butter – 1 tbsp (unsalted)

  • Water – 1 cup

  • Salt – to taste

🍳 Instructions

  1. Prepare the chilies:

    • Wash and slice the chilies lengthwise or cut into halves. If you're using extremely hot chilies, you can deseed some to control the heat.

  2. Cook the base:

    • In a medium pot, add the sliced chilies, onions, garlic, and tomato (if using).

    • Pour in 1 cup of water and add salt to taste.

  3. Simmer:

    • Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil.

    • Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until chilies are tender.

  4. Add cheese:

    • Reduce heat to low. Add cheese and stir gently.

    • Add butter and allow the cheese to melt slowly. Stir until you get a creamy consistency.

    • Simmer uncovered for 2–3 more minutes. Avoid over-stirring after the cheese has melted to preserve texture.

  5. Adjust consistency (optional):

    • If too thick, add a bit more water.

    • If too watery, simmer a little longer uncovered.

  6. Serve hot:

    • Ema Datshi is traditionally served with red rice, but it pairs well with steamed white rice as well.

🍽️ Serving Tips

  • Side dishes: Pair with Bhutanese buckwheat pancakes (Khuli), kewa datshi (potato cheese stew), or simple sautéed greens.

  • Spice level: Customize by blending mild and hot peppers to balance flavor and heat.

  • Cheese note: Bhutanese datshi is soft and melts into a thick sauce. The best substitute outside Bhutan is a blend of feta (for tang) and mozzarella or processed cheese (for meltiness).

Fun Fact

"Ema" means chili and "Datshi" means cheese in Dzongkha (Bhutan’s national language). This dish is not a side — in Bhutan, chilies are the main dish, not the spice!


YT Channel: Infinite Curiosity


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