Jalapeño
Jalapeño gives the perfect heat for me. Anything higher and I start squirming in my seat. Even though they are lower on the scoville scale they can be hot to handle. I don’t go as far as using gloves because I have found my hands aren’t that sensitive, but yours maybe. The heat comes from the seeds, but mostly from the white membrane. The more of that you remove the milder the flavor will be. The capsaicin, what causes the heat, lingers on your hands for a while. Talk to yourself, write yourself a note, do whatever it takes to remember to wash your hands after you cut the peppers. We have had a few mishaps here. I blew my nose with a kleenex and boy did it burn. Men, and women, careful if you go to the restroom. That is not an area you want to feel the heat. In case you forget, the best way to stop the burning is butter or milk. If you are paleo vegetable oil will do in a pinch. Eyes are the most common area to touch with pepper hands. If that happens flush it out with water, not milk. I hope you made that assumption on your own, but best to clarify. If you are going to cut large quantities at one time I highly recommend gloves.
Season: Summer
What to look for when you buy:
shiny, dark green, firm peppers. A little red on them is fine. That will indicate a more mature pepper and possibly a hotter pepper.
How to store it:
Toss your unwashed peppers into a brown paper bag and put them in the crisper for up to 2 weeks. If you refrigerate in plastic leave the top open so air can circulate.
How to prepare it:
Halve the peppers, scoop or cut out the seeds, remove as much white membrane as possible. Then prepare as your recipe directs.
How to cook it:
It isn’t likely you will cook them by themselves unless you are making jalapeño poppers. My favorite use is to dice them up and make some pico de gallo to use in eggs or as a base for salsa.
Links to some great jalapeño recipes:
Shredded Carrot Salad w/Jalapeno, Lime & Cilantro-We had this as a side with bbq and it was delicious.
Cilantro Lime Jalapeño Lemonade - I haven’t made this yet but I am very intrigued. God bless pinterest right?
Jalapeño Bread and Butter Pickles - That sounds adventurous.
Peach & Jalapeño pepper jam - not the recipe I used but it looks similar. This is one of my favorite jams to make
Erika Madden says
Ohhhh, I ADORE jalepenos! I confess, I just can’t resist a jalepeno popper with bacon. They’re my indulgence. 😉
Erika Madden recently posted…27 WAYS TO EARN PEOPLE’S TRUST AND LOOK CREDIBLE ONLINE
There are certainly worse indulgences to have! I have never had one with bacon that sounds delicious.
“A little red on them is fine. That will indicate a more mature pepper and possibly a hotter pepper.” I didn’t know that! This is a big help, since I’ve recently been trying to figure out how to use these little guys in cooking. Thank you for the tips!
You are welcome Melissa! Glad you stopped by and left with something helpful. That one was new to me as well I thought it meant they were past their prime.