If you weren’t already aware that we are smack-dab in the middle of Hatch Chile season, then consider yourself in-the-know now. It’s a glorious time to be alive!
Origin of Hatch Chiles & Their Properties
Hatch Chiles hail from Hatch, New Mexico. They are similar to the Anaheim green chile, but you can only call the pepper a Hatch pepper if it is grown in Hatch New Mexico. The flesh is gorgeous and thick, and the heat level ranges from very mild to extremely hot. Their flavor is out of this world – slightly pungent, smoky (because of the roasting), and sweet. The Chiles are also incredibly versatile, with the ability to be added to virtually any dish, from pizza, to mac & cheese, to the dish I’ve got for you today: hummus!
Roasted Hatch Chile Hummus
This hummus is LOADED with hatch chiles. I made a standard hummus recipe, and added two diced, roasted hatch chiles, and used Melissa’s Produce signature Green Hot Hatch Chile Powder to bump up the heat level a little bit. They also introduced Green Hatch Pepper Almonds this year. With these new hatch chile products they’ve introduced, I’m even more obsessed! Topping the hummus with them after popping a couple of them adds a sweet, salty, and slightly spicy surprise. I have a feeling that they’d be great on salads too.
Attend A Hatch Chile Roasting
Make sure to check out the hatch chile roastings in your area – Melissa’s Produce has a schedule of these events on their website where you can search by store. Go, get your box of hatch chiles, and they’ll roast them on site for you. Get them home, and what I normally do is skin them – the roasted skin slips right off. Then, portion them into one and two pound bags, and freeze them so you have them year-round. When you’re ready to make this hummus, remove from the freezer a day or two before. Put the defrosting bag in a container, because the condensation from the defrosting process can make your fridge messy. No one needs that.
To use your newly roasted hatch chiles, take them out, de-seed them, and dice as normal! Use the rest in a Hatch Chile Tart, Shakshouka with Hatch Chiles, in a Matbuha, make southwest burgers and slap a whole chile on that bad-boy, or you can even brew a kick-ass beer with them!
More Hatch Chile Recipes
Hatch Chile Hummus with Green Hatch Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups Chickpeas drained, reserving the liquid
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Green Hot Hatch Chile Powder
- 3 Tablespoons Tahini
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice fresh
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic fresh, minced
- 1/2 Cup Hatch Chiles roasted, and diced
- 1/4 Cup Green Hatch Pepper Almonds
Instructions
- Add chickpeas, salt, hatch chile powder, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic to a food processor, pulsing to combine. Add 3 tablespoons of reserved chickpea liquid, and process until you have a smooth and slightly loose paste. Add more chickpea liquid to thin out to desired consistency.
- Add the chickpea mixture to a bowl, and add the diced, roasted hatch chiles, mixing to combine.
- Add to a small serving bowl, topping with chopped Green Hatch Pepper Almonds. Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks and cherry tomato, or your favorite pita bread.
Nutrition
*Disclaimer: I was sent Hatch Chile Almonds by Melissa’s Produce, but was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are my own.
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