Calabacitas (Mexican Zucchini)

Calabacitas con Queso, is a delicious and versatile Mexican recipe that’s easy to make, and incredibly tasty. It’s a lighter dish than your typical rice and refried beans, yet it’s hearty enough to be a main course like a vegetarian filling for tacos. This traditional vegetable dish might sound exotic but it’s actually made with simple ingredients that you likely use in dozens of recipes. Authentic Calabacitas recipes are made with Mexican squash, however this recipe uses regular zucchini, which is easy to find at the grocery store.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 yellow onion , diced
• 1 green bell pepper , diced
• 2 zucchini , cut into 1" chunks
• 3 cloves garlic , minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup super sweet frozen corn , thawed
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup jack cheese , shredded
• 1/2 cup cilantro , finely minced