Garden Jalapeño Recipes

I have a small garden, but in my small garden I have one thriving jalapeño plant. While my husband devours salsa like it's chocolate, I still can't keep up with how many peppers I'm getting. And I know I'm not the only one. So I've been trying a number of recipes using jalapeños and I thought I'd share a few that I like.

If you're a sissy about hot foods like me, just make sure you get all the seeds out and you'll be fine. Without the seeds, none of these are very hot on the tongue, they just have a tiny little kick and a good flavor.

Delicious Black Bean Burritos

This one is fast and easy and I've been making it for years.

2 10" flour tortillas
2 T vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 t minced garlic
1 15oz can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 t minced jalapeño pepper
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 t salt
2 T chopped fresh cilantro

Wrap tortillas in foil & place in oven heated to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through. Heat oil in a 10" skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic & jalapeños; cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour beans into skillet and cook 3 minutes, stirring. Cut cream cheese into cubes & add to skillet with salt. Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir cilantro into mixture. Spoon mixture evenly down center of warmed tortillas & roll up tortillas. Serve immediately.

[If you're in a hurry you can buy chopped onions and pepper in the freezer isle, and pre-minced garlic in a jar, usually in the produce section].
(Says it serves 2 but I usually double the recipe)

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 692 | Total Fat: 35.8g | Cholesterol: 47mg

Esfiha Open Meat Pies

This is a meal I became familiar with while living in Brazil, though it's of Arabic origins. I love them, but if you don't like to try new things this might not be for you.

2lbs frozen dough, thawed (or equivalent amount of homemade dough)
2 lbs lean lamb or ground beef
4 T butter
1 small bunch green onions, finely chopped
4 T finely chopped cilantro
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 jalapeño pepper, very finely chopped
2 t salt
1 t oregano
3/4 t pepper
4 medium tomatoes, chopped, divided

Serve with lime wedges

Form dough into 20 balls, then cover with a damp cloth and allow to rest for one and a half hours. In the meantime, thoroughly mix the remaining ingredients, except for half of the tomatoes. Divide into twenty equal portions and set aside.
Roll dough balls into circles about 4" in diameter, leaving a raised edge around the outside of the circles (like a pizza crust). Spread one portion of the mixture around the inside. Continue for all twenty. (They will look like mini meat pizzas).
Place on well-greased jelly-roll pans or rimmed cookie sheets and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove and decorate with remaining tomatoes and return to oven for an additional 15 minutes; serve piping hot, with lime wedges (I squeeze lime juice over mine before eating them).

Orange Chicken

This recipe comes from The Feed Zone Cookbook Fast and Flavorful Food for Athletes. It's included in the Aprés section, meaning it's best eaten within 30 minutes after exercise to aid in "properly restoring muscle glycogen stores and speeding up the recovery process." It's also just a good dish for any day of the week though, I think. If you are an active athlete, I recommend this book.

2 c uncooked calrose or medium grain rice
1 1/2 c water
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
1 c rice flour
1/2 c red cabbage
1/4 c red onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced

Dressing:
1/4 c orange marmlade
1 T soy sauce
1 t chili sauce (or to taste)

Combine rice and water in rice cooker (mine requires a little more water than the recipe calls for, but don't over-do it or your rice won't be sticky).
While rice is cooking, dust chicken pieces with rice flour in a bowl or large ziplock bag.
In a lightly oiled medium sauté pan, cook the chicken until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Add cabbage, onion, and jalapeño and sauté until all are softened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
To make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together orange marmalade, soy sauce, and chili sauce.
Pour dressing over chicken and vegetable mixture and stir well to incorporate. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice

(When it comes to chicken and rice dishes I often double the sauce. You don't have to use it all, but if you want more, then it's there).

Serves 4


I'd love to hear your favorite recipes too! Please feel free to share!

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