Pickled Jalapeños with Goat Cheese

When we lived in that wood paneled apartment we were still newlyweds, well I guess not technically, we were not married yet (gasp—I know!) but hadn’t been together all that long so I think of this time as our newlywed years. By the time we were actual newlyweds nothing was really that new anymore (but still very exciting, don’t get me wrong Honey!).

As a newbie to Mexican cuisine I became a little eager to please and decided to make pickled jalapeños for everyone that Christmas. I was fanatical about it, did lots of research and settled on this recipe from Emeril Lagasse—a talented Chef but not a man particularly known for his Mexican cooking. The recipe calls for the basics; jalapeños, vinegar, salt, but also for Zatarain’s Concentrated Liquid Crab Boil. I couldn’t find the liquid but I did find the dry spice version with whole mustard seed, red chile flakes, and coriander that give these pickled peppers an extra kick of flavor or as a wise man once said, “Kicked it up a notch”!

That Christmas I nervously handed them out to all of the Professor’s family and friends in Texas. A month or so later I got the sweetest letter from one of his Uncles. He said those pickled jalapeños were the best he’s had and asked if I could send him another jar. Are you kidding me?! Of course! I couldn’t have been more flattered.

Jump ahead to a couple weeks ago when I found myself sitting around the kitchen table with a jalapeño farmer who was telling me he liked to stuff the jalapeños before pickling them. Well that certainly blew my mind! Oh, and he also let me know that I never made pickled jalapeños, what I make is called jalapeños en escabeche. “What’s the difference?” I asked. “Pickled jalapeños are just that—jalapeños in vinegar. Escabeche is when you add all the spices.” Go figure. I guess that’s what I get for using a Louisiana dude’s recipe.

Well whatever they’re called these pickled peppers are good, especially stuffed with cheese but you don’t need to take it from me, just ask the guy from Michoacán who wanted another jar.

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Pickled Jalapeños with Goat Cheese {Jalapeños en Escabeche con Queso}

Yield: 1 Quart

Recipe adapted from Emeril's Creole Christmas Book

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Ingredients

• 12 ounces whole jalapeños (about 12)
• 3 teaspoons Zatarain's crab boil spice mix (open the sachet and measure out the 3 teaspoons)
• 1 quart distilled white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 6 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 12 cloves garlic
• 1 large carrot, sliced on the bias
• 5 ounces soft goat cheese

Instructions

1. Combine jalapeños, spices, vinegar, garlic, and carrot slices in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat.
2. Simmer until the peppers are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove peppers from brine and set aside to cool slightly. Keep brine warm on the stove while you stuff the peppers.
3. Once peppers are cool enough to handle, make a slit vertically down one side of each pepper and carefully remove the seeds and core with a small spoon being careful not to tear the pepper.
4. Divide the cheese evenly between the pepper and press to close. Gently place peppers in a clean, sterilized jar with a tight-fitting lid, layering them with the carrots and garlic, being careful not to press down on the peppers.
5. Pour warm brine over the peppers and fill to within 1/4-inch from the top. Seal jar and refrigerate. Let sit at least 1 day before opening. Peppers will keep refrigerated for 1 month.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g

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