1. Classic Chile Rellenos

Fill Big Jim peppers with cheddar cheese, coat them lightly and fry until golden. You’ll get a melted cheese with a mild spice and a flavourful crunch.

2. Hatch Green Chile Stew

Simmer the roasted Big Jim peppers, pork, potatoes and onions until a thick, spicy broth forms. The hearty stew is warm, delicious and perfect for cool evenings with the whole family.

3. Enchiladas with Hatch Green Chile Sauce

Use Big Jim peppers, cheese and onions to create bright, slightly spicy and earthy enchiladas that everyone will love.

4. Add a Kick to Breakfast

Sprinkle the roasted Big Jim peppers on burritos, scrambled eggs and huevos rancheros to get that unmistakable New Mexico flavour.

5. Big Jim Burgers and Sandwiches

Add roasted Big Jim peppers on top of your sandwiches and burgers for a mildly spicy yet addictive snack.

Roasting and Freezing Big Jim Hatch Chiles

Unlocking the signature flavor of Big Jim peppers lies in roasting. The skin blisters and blackens once you roast them, creating charred peppers with a rich, smoky taste that takes any recipe to the next level.


Here’s how you can roast these peppers:

• Place the fresh green chiles over an open flame in your grill or stove.
• Turn the peppers every 30 seconds until the skin is all black.
• Gently peel off the charred skin after 10 minutes have passed.
• Lay the chiles flat on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Freeze the peeled chiles for an hour or two to prevent sticking.
• Transfer the chiles to airtight bags or containers and label them by date.

Pro Tip: You can also roast the Big Jim peppers in the oven at 425°F until they’re blistered and roasted on all sides. Once done, the Big Jim Hatch chile leaves an aromatic scent that can be used in many dishes.

Cooking Tips for the Perfect Big Jim Hatch Experience

Enjoy adding Big Jim to your dishes with these tips:

1. Know Your Heat

While Big Jim chiles are usually mild, the heat level may still vary from one plant to another. If you want a spicier dish, add some red chile or blend green and red chiles.

2. Choose the Right Peppers

Look for firm, glossy, fresh green chiles that don’t have soft spots. If the Big Jims are hard to find in grocery stores, jarred or frozen Hatch green chile works, too.

3. Don’t Waste the Seeds

After roasting and peeling the peppers, add some of the inner membrane with the seeds to your soups and sauces for more heat.

4. Experiment with Other Dishes

Use Big Jim in rice bowls, chilli con carne, stuffed peppers with cheese and beans, as a fried egg topping, and in creamy sauces for pastas and enchiladas. There are endless possibilities, so mix and match things where you can.

Bringing Big Jim Hatch Chile to Your Table

Even if you live far from New Mexico, you can still get the flavourful Big Jim Hatch chiles from grocery stores and online shops, like the Fresh Chile Company, in jarred, frozen and roasted versions.

Always check if the label says “Hatch Valley”, that means the chile is authentic. Pair the chile peppers with rice, melted cheese and beans to create the delicious Southwest meal you’ve always dreamed of making.


Conclusion

Big Jim Hatch chiles deliver a balanced spice and comfort when added to your rellenos, enchiladas and a hearty bowl of green chile stew. This versatile product lets you use it however you want when cooking your New Mexican cuisine.

The next time you see a Big Jim pepper in the grocery store, pick up a few pods and roast them to experience why these peppers add a special aroma and taste to your dishes.