I Made ‘Josephinas’ and This Cheesy Toast Needs to Be in Your Recipe Rotation
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022
With garlic, green chiles and melty cheese, Josephinas are delicious. This easy recipe is full of savory flavor.
If you love garlic bread, you have to try Josephinas. When I found this recipe, I had a strong hunch that they would taste amazing, so I decided to test them out on my family.
No surprise, I plan to add this one to our collection of favorite family recipes!
What Are Josephinas?
These appetizers are little toasts made with sliced French bread. A creamy mixture of mayonnaise, shredded cheese, garlic and green chiles is spread over the slices and then broiled until bubbly and melted.
The origin of these toasts and their name is hazy, but the recipe goes back a few decades. One of the earliest appearances was in the Junior League of Pasadena’s California Heritage Cookbook published in 1976. Some people also remember them appearing in small-town Midwestern newspapers in the ’80s. Josephinas are exactly the type of recipe you’d find in mom’s recipe box that she’d make for family gathered for the holidays.
How to Make Josephinas
Use a long, soft loaf of French bread for this recipe, which makes 10-12 servings.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 (4-ounce) cans green chiles, drained
- 1 loaf of French bread, about 24 inches long
Editor’s Tip: Pick up a block of Monterey Jack cheese to grate yourself. It will melt better than bagged, pre-shredded cheese.
Directions
Step 1: Make the cheese mixture
Blend the softened butter, mayonnaise, minced garlic and salt in a medium bowl using a hand mixer. Grate the Monterey Jack cheese into the bowl; use a rubber spatula to fold in the cheese and the drained green chiles. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the mixture for one hour.
Step 2: Slice the bread
Slice the French bread into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on large baking sheets lined with foil.
Step 3: Spread cheese on the slices
Preheat your oven broiler and arrange the rack to sit about 4 inches from the heating element. Scoop a generous tablespoon of butter-cheese mixture onto each bread slice and spread it to cover the surface right up to the edges.
Step 4: Broil and serve
Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 4-6 minutes, watching the Josephinas closely. You want the tops to be bubbling and lightly browned. Rotate the pan halfway through if necessary for even browning. Remove the pan and serve the Josephinas immediately.
Here’s What I Thought
It only took one bite for my family to be hooked on these treats, and they devoured the whole tray of Josephinas in no time. We loved them! The bread edges are very crispy, and when you sink your teeth into the soft centers, you’ll find a buttery and creamy texture under the layer of melted cheese. You can taste the mild green chiles but the minced garlic also adds a lot of flavor. I
‘m excited to make these cheesy bites for our next game night. Josephinas will also be a fantastic snack for holiday gatherings and for Super Bowl parties.
Originally Published: August 25, 2022
