Hatch Chilies

[ann jusko]

Hatch chilies are arriving! This year, I'll let Kroger or Central Market roast them.

[John in Plano]

B-i-l and his wife use to live in Santa Fe and we learned to visit during this time of year so we'd buy them roasted there and bring them home in an ice chest. First time its was 10 or so pounds, the last time it was over 60 pounds and that year hot wasn't hot.

I've bought them from Krogers, Albertsons and Central Market and roasted them at home over the years and there isn't any rhyme nor reason in finding hot Hatch chilies locally.

[millergrovesue]

I've never tried them though Brookshires does carry them. What is the appeal?

[John in Plano]

They taste good

[BillB]

They taste good

How do you use them? Making chili? Eating them as they are?

[Red Oak]

In the past I have raised some fair to middlin chilies; they did better for me in the Spring and especially in the Fall; it is too damn hot here during the Summer for them to do well here.

I rigged up a propane burner to get the skin off of them, a lot of trouble but they are tasty, and the smell reminds me of New Mexico.

[BillB]

In the past I have raised some fair to middlin chilies; they did better for me in the Spring and especially in the Fall; it is too damn hot here during the Summer for them to do well here.

I rigged up a propane burner to get the skin off of them, a lot of trouble but they are tasty, and the smell reminds me of New Mexico.

I make my own chili powder out of dried Anchos. Seed them then toast them in an iron skillet then grind them up in a coffee grinder. 10x better than what you can buy and cheap, too. I've never used New Mexico chilis but I've heard they are good.

[Red Oak]

Bill I do something similar with my Chili; if I have enough time; much better that using store bought Chili Powder.

My Grand Mother's Family Homesteaded in New Mexico, and they adopted the two staples of Chiles and Beans from the locals.

[John in Plano]

They taste good

How do you use them? Making chili? Eating them as they are?

After roasting them and letting them steam the skin comes off, then remove the seeds. I got to being lazy and freezing them in sandwich bags or quart bags after roasting and not removing skin/seeds till I needed them. Fresh is great, from the freezer imo is better than from a can.

A few of the ways we like them is in stews, soups, under the skin of a roasted chicken, in scrambled eggs, all manner of tex mex items, on burger or hot dogs or inside a burger with some monterey jack cheese.

eta; Never used them in chili, other red dried peppers are better.

[BillB]

Sounds good, John.
Thanks

[ann jusko]

I use them subbing for green peppers in recipes, too.

[planosteve]

They go nuts over them at Central Market. The ones I've eaten were tasteless and kind of gross.

[millergrovesue]

I use them subbing for green peppers in recipes, too.

I think that the reason I haven't bought them is that I can't eat bell peppers (they make me nauseated) so look askance at other peppers too. Though I can eat jalapenos, poblanos, and some others. I have just never understood what it is about Hatch chiles that causes all the hoopla. Are they hot or mild? Is it simply the flavor that makes them so great? Guess I need to try them and see. Do you have to roast them first or is that just one way of fixing them?

[John in Plano]

Hatch is a growing area in New Mexico that has done a great job of growing and marketing New Mexico green chiles. The same chile grown in other areas of NM can't be sold as Hatch.

Taking the skin off after roasting leaves the flesh which can be mild , medium or hot and has a smokey flavor from the roast along with its fresh green NM chile flavor.

Buy a few and roast them on a gas grill or hot coals until the skin starts turning black and is blistering, then put them in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap for 30 minutes or so , trash bags work great for a large amount. I get ones as straight as possible ( easier to work with when I roast them) and will buy hot & medium.

[ann jusko]

I do love smelling them roasting as soon as you enter the Central Market parking lot. People are lined up to buy the roasted ones. I've tried both and really prefer the ones already roasted. I'm kind of lazy, I guess. It may be the atmosphere at Central Market, talking to people waiting and exchanging ideas on how everyone uses them, etc. It's kind of like a carnival.

[Jami]

None of the stores here roast them. I have to either make a trip to Dallas or just roast them myself. I love to freeze them and use them during the year, they have a great flavor.