Hydroponically Grown Jalapeño Popper Recipe
Jalapeño poppers are a crowd favorite – cheesy, spicy, and utterly delicious. Using hydroponically grown jalapeño peppers ensures you’re working with the freshest and crunchiest ingredients. These poppers are perfect for parties, game days, or even just as a spicy treat.
Ingredients:
- Hydroponically Grown Jalapeño Peppers: 12, halved and deseeded
- Cream Cheese: 8 oz, softened
- Cheddar Cheese: 1 cup, shredded
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Bacon: 6 strips, cooked crispy and crumbled (optional for a vegetarian version)
- Salt: To taste
- Black Pepper: To taste
- Breadcrumbs: 1 cup
- Eggs: 2, beaten
- Oil: For frying (can also be baked for a healthier version)
Instructions:
- Prepping the Jalapeños: Carefully cut the hydroponically grown jalapeño peppers in half, lengthwise. Remove the seeds and membranes using a spoon or a knife, ensuring the pepper halves remain intact.
- Creamy Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, minced garlic, crumbled bacon (if using), salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Filling the Peppers: Using a spoon or a small spatula, stuff each jalapeño half with the creamy cheese mixture. Ensure they’re generously filled but not overflowing.
- Coating Process: Dip each stuffed jalapeño half into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess to drip off. Then, coat them thoroughly in breadcrumbs.
- Cooking:
– *For Frying*: Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, carefully place the breaded jalapeños into the oil, frying until golden brown. Once done, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil.
– *For Baking*: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the breaded jalapeños on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
- Serving: Serve your jalapeño poppers hot, ideally with a dipping sauce of choice – ranch, blue cheese, or even a tangy salsa.
Tip: To reduce the spiciness, ensure all seeds and membranes are removed from the jalapeños. For an added twist, you can mix in some fresh herbs or green onions into the cheese mixture. Always be cautious when working with spicy peppers – wearing gloves is recommended.
