There are so many wonderful things about summer! Beach vacations, fresh strawberry pie, happy painted toenails in flip-flops, and Hatch green chiles! That's right - these chile peppers from the Hatch valley in New Mexico are one of the highlights of my summer! I wait year round until late July or early August for these seasonal peppers to be available, and I'm quick to run into my Whole Foods Market to pick up a stash!
Hatch green chiles can be bought whole and roasted right over the open flame of your gas stove! The skin bubbles and chars beautifully! Just pop the roasted whole chiles in a zip-top bag and let the steam loosen the skin. Then after a few minutes, use your hands to peel them! Easy as that, y'all! And the flavor. Oh my word. Their smoky char and medium/hot heat are such a great flavor combo that go perfectly with eggs, salsa, enchiladas and more! I've even mixed chopped Hatch chiles into my ground beef for delicious burgers! Pssst...there's even Hatch cheese that you can shred or slice and melt right on top of your burger!
This week I made blackened fish tacos that begged for a pile of guacamole to serve alongside. So I made a heaping bowl of Hatch Green Chile Guacamole loaded with fresh, chopped roasted chiles for heat, then I mixed in jarred, chopped, roasted red peppers to balance the heat with sweet and to give this creamy green dip some great color! Goodness, y'all. This guacamole is limey, peppery, smoky, sweet, and good good good!
And after you've roasted your Hatch chiles (Whole Foods is even roasting Hatch chiles on their front porch starting August 5 so you don't have to roast them yourself!), you can freeze what's left! Or for that matter, you can buy a whole wheelbarrow full of them and freeze them! Their texture and taste stay true. Freeze them in 1 cup batches so you can just pull them out of the freezer, thaw them, and stir them into your breakfast tacos or your cornbread year round!
However you choose to get these Hatch chiles from Whole Foods, you must make this guacamole! It's perfect for summertime snacking or to kick off football season which can't get here soon enough!!
Three cheers for Summer!
FYI...Fresh Hatch chiles are $.69/lb through August 22, then they go to their regular price $.99/lb. Roasted Hatch chiles are $2.99/lb through August 22, then they go to back to $3.99/lb. Get yours while they're on sale! And make this guacamole for your people!
HATCH GREEN CHILE GUACAMOLE
serves 8
3 ripe avocados
1/2 cup chopped, roasted Hatch chiles
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
Juice of one lime (or two if you like it limier)
1/2 teaspoon grated garlic
3 heaping tablespoons chopped, jarred roasted red peppers
Garnish with extra Hatch chiles, roasted red peppers, cilantro, and lime slices
In a medium bowl, scoop out the flesh of the avocados, and add in the Hatch chiles, salt, white pepper, cumin, and lime juice. Use a potato masher or two forks to mash the avocados and chiles. The texture should be creamy but have a few chunky bites of avocado mixed in. Stir in grated garlic and chopped, jarred roasted red peppers. Taste for seasoning and add more lime, salt or cumin. Garnish with more chiles, more peppers, and cilantro. Serve with lime slices and warmed tortilla chips.
I have a partnership with Whole Foods Market and have been compensated for my work, but all words and opinions are my own.
