PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers ... recipes 1, 2, 3

These are MY three favorite Hatch chili recipes and the first ones I make when Hatch chili's come into season.

The first one is a fairly traditional take on Pico de Gallo. I love cilantro and lime and this gives it a good twist. If you don't like tequila you can use some cider vinegar.

The second adds the peppers to apple cobbler and gives it an interesting taste.

The third thing I make are quesadillas. I grill some onions and hatch peppers and cook some bacon. I use a mixture of cheese - two kinds of white and a little cheddar. I also have some cilantro. Get the freshest tortillas you can find - I prefer flour (I buy them raw - something you can get in Texas - and cook them before making the quesadillas) but corn will also work. Put the onions, peppers, bacon, cheese mixture, and cilantro in a tortilla and fold in half. Put a little butter in a hot pan and toast on each side until the cheese melts and the tortilla toasts.

There will be some more Hatch recipes as the days go along.

Enjoy!


PICO DE GALLO

Ingredients:
6 tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 diced red onion
3 Hatch chili peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Zest of 1/2 lime
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon tequila
1 teaspoon cumin
sea salt and crushed black pepper, to taste

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a big old bowl, as this recipe makes a lot. Remove the seeds and juicy parts of the tomato for better consistency. Cover and refrigerate for a couple hours. As with any dish, you may add or delete ingredients to suit your personal taste. If you like avocado, chopped and slice one (or two) for this recipe. You can also add garlic, if desired. You can use any peppers (usually jalapeño) if Hatch peppers are not in season.




HATCH OATMEAL APPLE COBBLER

Ingredients:
3 cup apples, sliced (Granny Smith or Gala)
1/2 cup Hatch chili peppers, chopped
3 tbsp. flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. cider vinegar

Topping:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
Combine apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and cider vinegar. Place in a buttered (greased) casserole dish. For the topping - cut together with pastry blender the remaining ingredients and sprinkle on top of the apple mixture. Bake 35 minutes in 375 degree oven. Again, you can adjust this recipe as you'd like. I've used some other spices, and even more nuts, oats and butter.

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers ... day 3

To be called a “Hatch" New Mexican pepper it must be grown in the area of Hatch, Doña Ana County, New Mexico (near Las Cruces). It is not a variety.

Because of the thick skin, the whole peppers are often roasted and the skin removed.

The most common methods:
- In the oven or broiler until skins blister ... about 7 minutes at 450 degrees
- Grill outdoors until skin blisters
- On the stove ... use a heavy pan and on high heat, roasting for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally until skin blisters

A friend suggests ...
“Quick way to peel lots of Hatch chilis - we roast them over the grill when we are cooking other things then let them cool, throw in a plastic bag, seal and freeze. To peel, run warm water over chilis and the skins come off ... works every time!"

Peppers last longer in the freezer with the skin protecting them and the skins will come off easily after thawing. Bacteria can grow on the peppers, so they should be frozen within a day of roasting and thawed in the fridge.

Otherwise, put peppers in a plastic or paper bag and wait till they cool then skin and remove seeds.

Then again - I use them, skin and all, chopped and raw.

Tomorrow - my favorite Hatch chili recipes ... and some suggestions. In the meantime you can simply search "Hatch chili recipes" and find some (but not mine).

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers ... day 2

Today I'm across town at Central Market. You can smell the Hatch chili peppers the moment the doors open. Bammmm! hits you in the face.

Actually, you can smell the peppers the moment you get our of your vehicle as they have two huge gas fired chili roasters going.

And all kinds of Hatch food products being demonstrated inside ... from corn chips, corn bread, tortillas and scones, to sausages, salsas, enchiladas, and more!

CM is the H.E. Butt Grocery Company's answer to Whole Foods.

Both stores are born (and based) in Texas. Yes, Texas IS big enough for two similar style stores (even 3 or 4 if you count Sprout's and Sunflower) ... and other smaller ones ... ??? Face it - Texans eat ... Texans cook .. and sometimes we cook and eat healthy.

Central Market is kicking off their 16th Annual Hatch Chili Festival today - August 17.

They’re on the lookout for the most creative Hatch chile recipes. Starters. Entrees. Desserts. Drinks.
Originality counts. From five ingredients to 50, nothing’s out of bounds if it involves a heavenly
helping of Hatch.


Here's the low down ...
Enter your recipe by August 22, 2011 at 10:00 am. Central Market will select eight winning recipes — one for each of their stores. Entries are judged for creativity, tastiness and presentation by Central Market Partners, local celebrities and Hatch chile fans — (I'm thinking I could be a judge???)

Main prizes ...
Winning entries will receive 75 pounds of Hatch chile peppers and a $100 Central Market gift card.

but look ...
You receive a one-time offer for a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase just for entering.

(okay ... I'm working on MY Hatch recipe entry just for the $5 coupon.)

I know people who can spend $25 at Central Market just in the candy bar (neon sour orange worms) ... or on coconut water ... or in beer and wine ... or desserts ... or seafood ... or ...

Ciao!

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers

Okay ... so I gotta get my act together and start posting something on a daily basis.

How about something I found today.

Hatch Chili Peppers are 39¢ a pound at Whole Food Markets in Sugar Land.

I don't know if they;'re that price at YOUR Whole Foods, but they are at mine.

Jay Leno joked about Whole Foods again last night ... the US has a $14 trillion debt. To get a handle on $14 trillion, imagine grocery shopping at Whole Foods every day for a month ..." (audience laughs) ...

Well audience, the laugh's on you this time. Hatch chili peppers are 99¢ to $1.49 elsewhere in town. And their quality is considerably less than here at Whole Foods.

For those who haven't tried them, Hatch Chili Peppers are like Vidalia Onions - truly one of a kind. It's the soil in Doña Ana County, NM that makes it unique.

Most suggest roasting the peppers over an open flame to bring out their flavor. You can do this is a skillet or on a grill. The stores have special pepper roasters and they made a big deal out of it on Friday's saturdays and Sundays.

They are also good "raw" ... chopped and diced and used in recipes like you would a bell, jalapeño, anaheim, or poblano peppers.

There are two kinds of Hatch chili peppers, mild and hot. Believe the billing (and just hope the peppers aren't mislabeled when you buy them).

Grab the recipes at the stores ... from Hatch quesadillas (and tortillas), to cornbread and scones and cookies!

I'll give you MY favorite Hatch Chili recipe tomorrow.