Hatch chile peppers –  those fleshy, flavorful peppers that chile pepper connoisseurs adore – are back in season. You can find them in the produce section of many well-stocked supermarkets. In fact, your supermarket might even have a special roasting event (more on that below). And once you’ve got your hands on them, we have some great Hatch chile pepper recipes for you, including this spectacular Hatch Chile Quinoa Salad.

But first – Why are Hatch chiles so special?

What Makes Hatch Chiles Special?

Hatch chiles grow exclusively in the Hatch Valley, just north of Las Cruces in New Mexico. (Worth noting: Only chiles grown in this valley may carry this name.) What makes them unique is that the climate there reaches high daytime temperatures and extremely low nighttime temperatures, resulting in a uniquely flavored pepper that any chile lover can easily identify. Their unusually thick flesh makes them great for chiles rellenos as well as many other chile dishes. Plus, you can add them to sandwiches, soups, salsas, salads, dips, and more.

Watch the Hatch chiles dance as they tumble around in the roaster

Roasting Hatch Chile Peppers

Hatch chiles come in a variety of heat levels, and you can buy them fresh, roasted, dried, or in powder form. If you start with fresh Hatch chiles, you may roast them either on an open flame or under the broiler, rotating every two minutes or so, for a total of about 8 minutes. Next, let them steam, either in a paper or plastic bag, or in a large pot with a lid. Last, put on a pair of gloves (!) and gently peel off the charred skin, stem, and inner seeds and veins. The end result?  The perfectly roasted meaty flesh of this tasty pepper.

Roasted peppers are left to steam and cool off in a plastic bag until they are ready to peel.

If you want to be a part of the fun, consider stopping by a Hatch chile roasting near you. You can see a list of all of the scheduled Hatch chile pepper roastings here. At these popular events, usually held at supermarkets, you can watch the chiles get roasted in a giant industrial roaster. Then you can sample and purchase your own chiles, plus a variety of chile-related products such as Hatch chile powder, Hatch chile salsa, and Hatch chile ketchup (Hatchup).

Hatch Chile Quinoa Salad Recipe

So now that you have your Hatch chiles, you will definitely need some Hatch chile pepper recipes. We would love to get you started with this delicious Hatch Chile Quinoa Salad. This recipe is adapted from Melissa’s first Hatch Chile Cookbook, from a recipe known as Hatch Chile Summer Salad.

Health Ads by

5 from 1 vote

Print

Hatch Chile Quinoa Salad

A bright and spicy summer salad made with quinoa and featuring roasted Hatch chile peppers.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword Hatch chiles, quinoa

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (or one 500g tube Melissa's Produce ready-to-eat cooked quinoa)
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels, cooked
• 1/2 cup roasted, peeled, stemmed, seeded, and chopped Hatch chile peppers (2 to 3 peppers)
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (about 10-12)
• 1 tsp Hatch chile powder
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the quinoa, corn, Hatch chiles, bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, and chile powder in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, and crushed garlic. Pour the mixture over the salad ingredients and toss to combine. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired. Serve immediately, or chill until ready to serve.

We love this recipe because it’s super-quick and easy… and because the Hatch chiles give it a little “kick” that you don’t necessarily expect from a quinoa salad.

Other Hatch Chile Pepper Recipes

For a little more variety, you can try some of our old favorites, including:

Hatched Potatoes with Hatch Chiles

Hatch Chile Coriander Popcorn

Hatch Chile Cornbread

Plus you can find a bonus Hatch-y Joes (sloppy joes made with Hatch chile peppers on our Jolly Tomato Instagram page.

Also, check out this Hatch Chile Quiche recipe (and more on Hatch chiles) from our friend Ruth over at Ruth Talks Food.

Last but not least, you can find a whole collection of Hatch chile pepper recipes from the true Hatch experts, our friends at Melissa’s Produce.

Enjoy Hatch chile pepper season while it lasts! And if you manage to get your hands on a lot of Hatch chiles, don’t be afraid to freeze them. Roasted, stemmed, and peeled, Hatch chile peppers can freeze well for several months.

Blogger disclosure: Melissa’s Produce provided us with Hatch chile peppers for tasting. We did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are our own.