Put a Pepper in your Step! by Jenny Pena

 Put a Pepper in your Step!

by Jenny Pena 

One item that throughout the fall and still as of last week we got in our CSA box are peppers. These come in different colors, shapes, sizes and spice levels. Regardless of your preference of spice level, you can find peppers that can be incorporated in your recipes to add a layer of flavor to your sauces, stews and beans. During this season we received several types and I wanted to share about two of my favorites that are also readily available in stores as well. 

Poblano Peppers – originally from Puebla they are dark green and have a lot of flavor and mild heat. Excellent to have roasted, stuffed and even dried to use in Mexican recipes which are called ancho chiles.

Here is a great recipe that I like to make when these come in the CSA box. Feel free to swap the filling with rice and beans, mashed potatoes and also experiment with different cheese combinations. It is delicious and ingredients are probably already in your pantry. See recipe linked here - https://www.thespruceeats.com/grilled-stuffed-chili-rellenos-3378388

Stuffed chiles.  Photo courtesy of https://www.thespruceeats.com

Jalapeno Peppers – these are widely known and are a bit more intense in terms of heat level. According to Wikipedia, it is the official “State Pepper of Texas,” but you don’t have to be in Texas to enjoy these. I love to add them to anything from stews, beans and guacamole. If you want it to be a bit spicier, leave the seeds; if you want it less hot, remove the seeds and use the outer part. I prefer to use them for guacamole and my trick is to roast them using a pan over the stove and then chop to add to the guacamole. Here is a simple recipe that also uses onions (that have been in every box this season) and, of course, avocados. See recipe linked here - https://everydaylatina.com/spicy-guacamole-with-roasted-vegetables/

Guacamole in a bowl with tortilla chips.  Photo courtesy of https://everydaylatina.com

So, whether you like the spice level to be up or down, you can still add some peppers to your vegetable rotation and experiment with it. Your foods will taste delicious and it is a simple and easy way to be versatile and experiment.

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Interested in learning more about the Norwood CSA? Check out our Info Page: https://norwoodfoodcoop.blogspot.com/2021/10/how-to-join-norwood-csa.html