5 Ways to Use Freshly Roasted Hatch Chiles While They’re in Season

I got my first taste of roasted Hatch chiles when I was living in California. Everyone got excited in late summer when these prized peppers would make their way to our west coast grocery stores. Hatch chiles are a type of green chile grown in the Hatch Valley region of New Mexico. They have a distinct flavor resulting from the area’s unique growing conditions, and a level of spice that can range from mild to hot. Roasting Hatch chiles gives them a delightful combination of earthy and smoky flavors.

After moving to the Chicago area, I was delighted to discover after that my new local grocery store hosts a special Hatch chile event every summer. The store brings in cases of these chiles and offers them raw, roasted or incorporated into recipes. Needless to say, I am first in line every year to pick some up for myself.

Where can I get roasted Hatch chiles?

Once late August or early September rolls around, in-season Hatch chiles can be found at specialty grocery stores across the country. They are easiest to come by in the Southwest, but now savvy customers are asking for them far and wide. Whole Foods is frequently a reliable resource. You might find them raw or roasted for your convenience.

How can I use roasted Hatch chiles?

Add roasted Hatch chiles to any dish that calls for roasted peppers. It’s a great way to use this seasonal treat.

Hatch chile homemade salsa

I always like to start by making a batch of homemade salsa. Incorporating roasted Hatch chiles into classic salsa verde takes it to a whole new level. Replace the serrano peppers with three or four roasted hot Hatch chiles. Then grab a bag of tortilla chips and dive right in.

Hatch chile pimiento cheese

I’m a huge fan of pimiento cheese, and I’ve found that adding some roasted Hatch chiles makes this southern classic even better. Start with this easy pimiento cheese recipe, and use chopped roasted Hatch chiles in lieu of one of the jars of pimiento strips. The combination of both peppers makes the pimiento cheese colorful and incredibly flavorful. Pimiento cheese can be used as a dip for crackers, a spread for burger buns or a filling for finger sandwiches on white bread with the crusts cut off.

Hatch chile biscuits

One fun way I like to play around with my haul of roasted Hatch chiles is to add them to my favorite cheesy biscuit recipe. The result tastes like a southwestern version of Red Lobster’s iconic Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

Hatch chile tamales

If you’re feeling ambitious and want to embark on an afternoon culinary project, making homemade tamales is the way to go. There are labor-intensive parts of the process, but it’s worth it once you take that first bite. I use this recipe for chicken tamales as a template, but I swap roasted Hatch chiles for the black olives in the filling.

Hatch chile enchiladas

Finally, you can never go wrong with a big pan of enchiladas verdes made with roasted Hatch chiles. A couple of roasted hot Hatch chiles in place of the serrano pepper kicks this dinnertime classic up a notch.