For one short time every year, the mouthwateringly delicious but rare chiles from Hatch, New Mexico are only in season… and that time is NOW! Today we’re sharing our favorite Hatch Chile recipes and tips for making the most of these delicious peppers.
What makes a Hatch Chile so special? The intense climate of New Mexico with its hot days and cold nights makes this a one-of-a-kind veggie with a uniquely robust and meaty flavor. Once you taste an authentic fire-roasted Hatch Chile, you’ll never look back! We’ve heard of people stocking up on 10, 20, even 50 pound bags of Hatch Chiles to stockpile these delicious peppers and take advantage of them before they’re gone.
If you’re going to be cooking with Hatch Chiles, here’s what you need to know to pick the best ones:
Shopping for Hatch Chiles:
For Fresh: When selecting fresh Hatch Chiles, look for glossy green peppers with firm to medium-thick texture, and no soft spots.
For Pre-Roasted: If you buy roasted chiles, the chiles will need to be peeled/stemmed/seeded by you!
Of course, if you’re shopping on Instacart you can leave the produce picking to our expert shoppers, and sit back and relax while getting Hatch Chiles delivered straight to your doorstep.
Cooking your Hatch Chiles:
If you’ll be roasting Hatch Chiles yourself, get a guide on how to roast Hatch Chiles so you do it right! Roasting the chiles and freezing them is a great way to make them last throughout the year and enjoy Hatch Chiles until next August.
via Krissa Corbett Cavouras on Flickr
Too hot to roast chiles in your oven? Try these alternative methods by The Kitchn to cook your Hatch Chiles before freezing:
Outdoor grill: Roast chiles directly on the grill, watching them closely and turning over as needed.
Electric or gas burner: Cover the burner with wire mesh and roast chiles on top, turning over as needed.
Cast iron skillet: Roast chiles in a skillet over medium-high heat, turning over as needed.
Open flame: Holding a chile pepper with tongs, carefully char it over an open gas flame or using a culinary torch.
Hatch Chile Recipes:
We’ve asked some of our partnered grocery stores to share their Hatch Chile recipes, and believe us — they look GOOD! Click the links below to check them out, and then order Hatch Chiles AND all the recipe ingredients for dinner tonight…
Roasted Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese by Mollie Stone’s Markets
Breakfast Strata with Hatch Chiles and Sausage by Whole Foods Market
Red Hatch Chile Sauce by Fresh & Easy
New Mexico Hatch Chile Pork Tostada by Bi-Rite Market
Don’t wait until the season is over — Hatch Chiles are going to be out of your local grocery stores before you know it! Which recipe will you be making for dinner tonight?
Top image c/o The Turquoise Table on Flickr
