Harvest chilies from your garden or buy them in bulk while they're cheap! Try these four affordable and delicious ways to preserve your chilies this summer.
It's pretty simple to can your own green chilies. If you want them to be similar to the store-bought ones, then you'll want anaheim peppers. Any mild, fleshy pepper will work though. The steps are simple:
1. Roast them
2. Remove the seeds and skin (please use gloves!)
3. Can them
Here's a great recipe with step-by-step instructions on how to do this. If you're not feeling the whole canning process, then you can skip step three, and just stick them into freezer bags and straight into the freezer.
You can pickle pretty much any pepper! Jalapenos are the most common, but you can choose a milder or hotter pepper depending on your tastes and what you have in mind. The process is quick and easy. The hardest part is definitely chopping the peppers. If you can get your hands on a food processor, it'll speed the whole process up significantly. Our handy guide to the basics of canning can help you if you're unsure of any of the steps. Try this is a great, simple recipe to get you started, but of course, feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices until it's to your liking.
Hot sauce is a great way to use your hottest chilies. If you prefer something milder, then you can definitely make your own hot sauce with milder chilies or even choose a few different varieties. There are so many different recipes, so look for one that suits your taste. Some are sweeter, while others have more garlic. It's totally up to you to choose what you like. Try this Ultimate DIY Hot Sauce Recipe to get you started.
If you have an abundance of chilies and you're low on time, then freezing them might be your best option. It's quick and easy and you can grab a few chilies whenever you need them for a recipe. Simply chop them, bag them, and chuck them in the freezer. Just remember, you'll want to use these chilies when a recipe calls for FRESH chilies. They're not a good alternative to any sort of canned chili. This is also the perfect way to preserve chilies when you just have one or two extra left over in the refrigerator.
If you're looking for more ways to cut waste and save in the kitchen, then Save has some tips that can help! Learn more about how to store your fruits and vegetables or try these Delicious, Budget Breakfast Ideas.
