August 2022 – I Want To Cook

Hatch Chile Peppers Are Back: Here’s What To Know

If you love chile peppers, now is a special time of year: Hatch chiles are in season and being delivered to stores fresh from their home of New Mexico, USA. These chiles get their name from the Hatch region of New Mexico where they are grown.

It’s easy to mistake a Hatch chile for another chile — the Anaheim, named after the city in California. While these peppers are similar in color, shape, and size, Hatch peppers have a distinctive flavor. I wish I could transmit it to you as you read this, but it’s one you’ll just have to experience yourself. For now, just know that it’s intense, vibrant, and delicious.

It’s like an Anaheim, but in high definition, lol.

Are Hatch Chiles Hot?

Well, they can be. Hatch peppers are available in a variety of spiciness levels, from medium to extra hot. I bought a few bags of medium and found their heat to be less than that of a Jalapeno. As with all peppers, though, each will vary.

What Is Mirepoix? It’s Culinary Magic

Carrots, celery, and onions. Three simple ingredients. On their own, each is a well-respected aromatic vegetable. Combined, they become a culinary super power. And that hero is called mirepoix.

It’s hard to understate the importance of mirepoix. Proper cooking of and use of mirepoix is one of the first things you learn in culinary school. I fondly remember being astounded at the transformation of this trio when cooked, and the flavor and texture they provide.

Whether you use mirepoix in a sauce, stock, or even your next pilaf, I’m sure you’ll also be impressed with the depth and complexity that happens to a recipe when you simply saute or sweat carrots, onions, and celery. Below is my tutorial on how to cook mirepoix.

Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

Who doesn’t love a crispy, crunchy tortilla chip? Whether you’re dipping them in salsa, loading them up for nachos, or simply eating them on their own, tortilla chips are deliciously addicting.

Homemade tortilla chips, however, can be a bit of a pain. You need to cut up corn tortillas into the requisite chip shapes, then fry each one in sizzling oil.

I’ve found a simpler solution, and it only involves an air fryer. Below, you’ll find my video on how to make tortilla chips quickly and easily in an air fryer.

A couple of notes: I’ve had good results setting the air fryer to 390 or 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and cooking these for about 20 minutes. That time might be too much or too little depending on your air fryer, so check the chips every few minutes and be sure to give them a toss every few minutes. Keep an especially close eye on them toward the end of cooking. I hope you enjoy!

The Easiest Blender Salsa Recipe

I read recently that salsa is right up there with ketchup as Americans’ favorite condiment. And can you blame them? I say: It’s about time.

Salsa, once only found at Mexican restaurants and in just a few variations on most store shelves, is now everywhere. Even mainstream supermarkets now sell a dizzying variety, whether made with tomatoes, tomatillos, or peppers.

But here’s a secret: Salsa is a breeze to make from scratch. And here’s another: You can whip it up in seconds in a blender or food processor. Here’s my video on how to do it, with the recipe below.