Why Hatch chiles have a cult following, and recipes to make you just as crazed! (2024)

FAQs

What's the deal with Hatch chiles? ›

The reason Hatch Chile are so special is that they are considered by many to be the best tasting of all chile peppers - especially when roasted! The roasting really brings out the delicious flavors – the thick flesh of roasted Hatch Chile has the best buttery, smokey, intense flavor!

"The big thing about Hatch chiles is their overall versatility since you can use them in basically any dish," says Cotanch. "They're great for stews, sautés, sauces, and dips like queso, hummus, or salsa. They're also perfect for topping a burger or pizza.

Hatch Chile History

The city, Hatch, New Mexico was named after General Edward Hatch, Commander of the Southwest military. Authentic New Mexican Hatch Chiles are some of the world's best chiles and they are named “Hatch” because of the region they are grown in.

New Mexico/Hatch Chiles

These long green chiles are virtually identical to California and Anaheim peppers, with one distinct difference: they are much, much hotter. Hatch chiles are New Mexico chiles that are grown in the small town of Hatch, New Mexico, and are considered premium green chiles.

So, in terms of heat, some Hatch Chile is milder than a jalapeno, while others are just as hot, or even hotter. It all depends on the specific variety of Hatch chile you're dealing with.

Chile peppers increase the enzymes responsible for fat metabolism in the liver and are used in the treatment of blood clots; the capsaicin helps to thin the blood. They also may help prevent the growth of certain cancers and aid in many skin conditions including psoriasis, itching and bruising.

Hatch Rest+ smart light

Unless your toddler learned to tell time early or you love crack-of-dawn wake-ups, this smart night-light and toddler clock is something to add to your dream list of nursery must-haves — pun intended.

There are a variety of colors to choose from.

If your child will be sleeping with a night light, I suggest setting the Hatch to either red or orange through the night. But your child can choose what color they'd like to wake up to! They can choose from yellow, green (“green means go”), blue, purple, or pink!

Hatch Chiles Come from One Place

The truth is simple: They got their name simply because they're grown in the Hatch Valley. While it may sound strange, the Hatch Valley is the only place this delectable chile can be grown.

How hot is a Hatch? The Scoville Scale measures the relative heat of hot peppers, and most Hatch chiles score between 1,500 and 2,500 units—about the same level of heat as poblano or Anaheim peppers.

Is it hot hatch or hot hatch? ›

A hot hatch (shortened from hot hatchback) is a fast version of a hatchback car. The term originated in the mid-1980s; however, faster factory versions of hatchbacks have been produced since the 1970s.

The green Hatch peppers are harvested early and treated like vegetables, often roasted or added to other recipes; meanwhile, peppers that are left to ripen longer turn red, and are most commonly strung up and hung to dry, then ground into a spice.

Yes, you certainly can grow Hatch Chile at home. That said, your success will depend on the growing conditions you can provide. Hatch chiles are named after the Hatch Valley in New Mexico, where the climate provides ideal growing conditions.

The tough outer skin must be removed from the chile. Blistering the skin using one of the following methods makes removal easy. Wash and dry chile. Use a knife to make a small slit in the side to allow steam to escape.

Hatch pepper season typically begins in August and continues through mid-September. During this time, you can buy fresh Hatch peppers, and if you buy them in areas where a lot are sold and used (again, all over New Mexico and the surrounding areas), you will likely be buying them by the case.

Hatch peppers can range from 1,000 – 8,000 in Scoville Heat Units – for perspective, they generally fall between the mild spice of a poblano or Anaheim chili pepper and can heat up towards a jalapeno or habanero on the Scoville Scale.

Hatch Peppers only have one growing season, August - September.