Roasted Hatch Green Chile has the most incredible flavor, but they have such a short season. They are just beginning to arrive at the market. Consider roasting your own chiles to up the flavor in your meals! Freeze them so you can enjoy their amazing flavor all year long!
New Mexico Green Chilies
When you are at the grocery store, have you seen a sign advertising piles of green chiles? Or maybe they are there, but you walk on by because you're not sure what to do.
Here in the Central Valley of California fresh Hatch New Mexico Green Chiles are abundant right now and they are delicious! You can enjoy their flavor all year long by roasting them!
Last week I bought about six pounds and brought them home, at .99 cents a pound, it's affordable too. It really can't be easier than this.
Should they be roasted indoors or outside?
Although they can be roasted indoors, I recommend outside. Sometimes when you are roasting large amounts of chilies indoors, the spicy aroma can be quite pungent - speaking from experience here!
Steps to Roasting Green Chile
How to choose the best chile
When you are buying the green chile be sure to choose ones that are bright green and glossy. Long and heavy also. You want them to lay flat on the grill when roasting.
Choosing heavy chiles will mean they are freshly picked and full of moisture.
How to roast hatch green chile
- Light your grill - charcoal or gas.
- When the grill is hot lay the chiles directly on the grill.
- When they are blistered and charred, flip them over and grill both sides.
- Remove and cool when both sides of the chili are cooked.
Roasted Hatch Chiles: FAQ
No you can slice and dice them and use them that way, but roasting the peppers gives them a wonderful charred flavor. It's the most delicious way to enjoy this vegetable!
Yes, after cooling they peppers should be refrigerated or frozen.
They can be hot yes - if you don't have access to them at your local grocer they can be order and you can choose mild, medium or hot!
After cooking, freeze the chiles whole in double-wrapped ziplock bags. No need to remove the charred skin! The chiles will keep better with the skin on. They keep well in the freezer up to six months.
You can, but after thawing the vegetables becomes watery. It's best to roast them first.
Actually they are the same pepper, but the flavor is just a bit different! Never tried them? Buy some at the store and give this a try - they have a unique, delicious flavor!
Allow the chiles to completely thaw. Lay the pepper on a board and using a knife, scrape off the blackened skin.
You can also easily remove the skin by running it under cold water.
Remove the stem and carefully open the chili and scrape out the seeds and membrane. That's where the majority of the heat is!
Don't be terribly concerned about removing every bit of char, a little bit adds great flavor to your meal!
I do not worry about it when I am grilling them because most of the time I'm using tongs.
When I am removing the skin and seeds I often do. Why? Because I wear contacts and sometimes if you get one that's terribly hot the heat lingers on your hands (even if you wash them well!) and will transfer.
Hoping you can learn from my mistakes! 😎
Hatch Chile
Grill them outside, using either a gas grill or with briquettes. Start the grill. You'll want it to be quite hot.
Simply place them directly on the grill. No oil, just grill them on all sides until the skin becomes blistered and bubbly. It takes about three to four minutes each side
Keep a cookie sheet nearby and lay them flat on the cookie sheet. That's it, they are done! Don't remove the top or worry about peeling off the skin. They actually are fresher when frozen intact
Hatch Green Chile
When you've roasted all the chilies, pack them into ziplock bags, (again, don't peel them) put about 4-5 per bag. Double-bag by adding the individual bags into a gallon ziplock bag and freeze.
What are hatch chiles used for?
They will keep for up to six months in the freezer when they are well packed! Packing them individually makes them easy to use.
When you are ready to use them, in chili, scrambled eggs or perhaps topping a burger, simply remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw. Remove the stem, split them open and scrape out the seeds and membranes.
So much flavor, minimal effort and you can enjoy them all summer long. I hope you give this a try!
Favorite Roasted Hatch Green Chile Recipes!
- Green Chili Egg Casserole - great make-ahead breakfast casserole perfect for breakfast or brunch!
- Supreme Veggie Nachos with Green Chile Sauce - check this out, these
sounds fabulous!! - Hatch Chile and Tomato Salsa - this would be super yummy topping the breakfast casserole above!!
- Pub Style Cheese Dip with Hatch Chiles - all you need with this is a beer!!!
- Green Chili Pork Recipe - for tacos, burritos or enchiladas, this is a tasty meal!
- Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Pasta - stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, cheesy and delicious!
Slow Cooker Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole - love that this is made in the slow cooker and it sounds AMAZING!- can you use Hatch Chiles in dessert? You can when you make Key Lime Hatch Chile Gelato! Think Key Lime Pie meets Cheesecake, swooning!
sheenam @ thetwincookingproject says
This post is making me so hungry! Love roasted chillies.
Bowl Me Over says
Me too, we are visiting again in the fall and can't wait to go to the market and see and smell the chiles roasting!
Debi @ Life Currents says
I love these chiles, and I saw them at the store. I wish I had seen your post then. But, now I can do this next year. Thanks!
Sandra Shaffer says
Such a great idea to preserve chilis for all year long, especially when there're so vibrant and plentiful!
Bowl Me Over says
Exactly Sandra, such a great way to preserve delicious summer flavor!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
Thank you for the step by step process with preserving these for year long usage. I have been seeing hatch chiles posts for about a month now but haven't seen any locally available yet. But when I do, I will snatch them up.
Bowl Me Over says
Sounds great Michelle! I hope you enjoy them!
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets) says
I love this tutorial. I blackened my chilis, but didn't put them in a bag. Your way will make it much easier.
Bowl Me Over says
It does help Sandi, because they steam in the bag and when you go to use them, the skins just fall off. Thanks for stopping by!
Michelle says
Love the smell of roasting chiles. It means green chile chicken stew in the winter is not far behind.
Bowl Me Over says
Yes! That makes me hungry just thinking about it!
Lois says
This looks like a great idea. I will try it.
Bowl Me Over says
Great! I should have also mentioned it saves a bit of $'s, good luck!