Can you roast jalapenos?

Yes, you can absolutely roast jalapenos. Roasting brings out the flavor of the peppers and makes them ideal for a variety of dishes. There are a few different methods you can use to roast jalapenos – oven roasting, broiling, or grilling. The method you choose will depend on how much time you have and what you plan to use the roasted peppers for afterwards. While raw jalapenos can pack some heat, roasting jalapenos actually tames their spiciness a bit. The process mellows the peppers’ flavor and brings out their natural sweetness. Roasting jalapenos is easy to do at home with just a few simple steps.

Why Roast Jalapenos?

There are a several benefits to roasting jalapenos:

It mellows out the heat – Roasting helps take away some of the intense spiciness raw jalapenos are known for. It brings the Scoville units down to a more palatable level.

Brings out the flavors – High dry heat concentrates the jalapeno’s natural sugars and flavors. The peppers become more complex, sweet, and aromatic after roasting.
Dries and softens the peppers – Moisture evaporates from the jalapeno, drying it out and giving it a softer, almost jammy texture.
Easier to peel – Fire roasting jalapenos makes them much easier to peel. The skin slides right off after being blistered.

Adds versatility – Roasted jalapenos work well in a wide range of recipes from dips and sauces to salads, eggs, pizza, pasta, and more.
Extends shelf life – Properly stored, roasted jalapenos will keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. They also freeze well for several months.

Roasting really concentrates everything that makes jalapenos delicious. It transforms their flavor profile, making them more sweet and smoky. The jalapeno’s natural sugars caramelize, while the smoke adds rich, savory notes. Roasting jalapenos is an easy cooking technique that unlocks their full potential.

Best Uses for Roasted Jalapenos

Here are some of the most popular ways to use roasted jalapenos:

Salsas, Sauces, and Dips

Chopped roasted jalapenos are excellent in fresh salsas and hot sauces. Their smoky sweetness pairs well with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime. Blend them into creamy dips and spreads like guacamole, bean dip, or queso. The charred jalapenos add flavor complexity.

Salads

Add diced roasted jalapenos to leafy green, grain, pasta, or potato salads. They provide a nice spicy-sweet crunch. Roast milder green jalapenos for a crowd-pleasing pop of heat and flavor.

Eggs

Wake up breakfast by folding roasted jalapenos into scrambled eggs or omelets. Or top egg casseroles and bakes with them before baking. Their charred flavor stands up well to the richness of eggs.

Pizza

Roast jalapenos whole, then slice and scatter over homemade or store-bought pizza. The smoky heat complements cheese, tomato sauce, veggies, and other toppings nicely. Or blend into the pizza sauce for integrated flavor.

Sandwiches and Tacos

Roasted jalapenos make flavorful additions to sandwiches like grilled cheese, burgers, tortas, and subs. Chop them up to mix into taco meat fillings. They add a tasty kick.

Soups and Chilis

Add roasted jalapeno slices or dices to soups like chicken noodle, tomato soup, vegetable soup, posole, or menudo. Use them to spice up meat or vegetarian chilis too.

On Top of Meats and Seafood

Serve roasted jalapenos over grilled, roasted, or fried meats like chicken, fish, shrimp, pork chops, ribs, or steak. They deliver a mild hit of heat and roasted richness.

In Creamy Dishes

Stir chopped roasted jalapenos into queso, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, pasta dishes, and creamed vegetable sides. They infuse meals with a delicious roasted pepper flavor.

How to Roast Jalapenos

There are a few easy methods for roasting jalapenos at home:

Oven Roasting

Oven roasting is a hands-off way to roast jalapenos with great results:

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise and remove stems and seeds for less heat.
Toss pepper halves with 1-2 Tbsp oil on a foil-lined baking sheet.
Roast for 20-30 minutes until blistered and lightly charred.

Broiling

For quicker roasting, use your oven’s broiler:

Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise; remove stems and seeds.
Place halves cut-side up on a foil-lined pan.

Broil 3-4 inches from heat for 4-5 minutes until blistered.
Flip and broil 2-3 more minutes until evenly charred.

Grilling

Grilling imparts delicious smoky notes:

Prepare a hot grill.
Place jalapenos directly on grates.
Grill for 6-8 minutes total, turning every 2 minutes until blistered and charred all over.

Stovetop Roasting

You can also roast jalapenos in a skillet on the stovetop:

Heat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat.
Add jalapeno halves cut-side down and let sear 3-4 minutes until blackened.

Flip peppers and roast 2-3 more minutes until blistered.

The key with any roasting method is to char the skins while cooking the jalapenos until softened but still firm. Roasting times can vary based on thickness and how much blistering you want.

How to Peel Roasted Jalapenos

The charred skins will slide right off after roasting. There are a couple ways to peel them:

Let cool slightly, then rub peppers between your fingertips – the skins will slip off.
Place roasted jalapenos in a covered bowl or sealed bag to sweat for 10-15 minutes. The steam helps loosen skins for peeling.

Leaving small bits of blackened skin on is fine for many uses. But peel thoroughly for the smoothest texture in creams, dips, or sauces.

How to Seed Roasted Jalapenos

You can remove membranes and seeds before or after roasting jalapenos:

Before – Split peppers lengthwise and scrape out seeds and membranes with a knife before roasting. This greatly reduces heat.
After – Roast peppers whole, let cool, then halve and scrape out interior ribbing and seeds. Some heat will infuse during roasting.

Keep membranes and seeds for the most intensity of flavor. Scrape them out to tame spice levels if desired. Wear gloves when handling seeds to avoid burning hands. Rinse hands, knife, and cutting board after handling raw jalapenos to avoid transferring heat.

How to Store Roasted Jalapenos

Properly stored, roasted jalapenos will keep for 2-3 weeks refrigerated. Here are some storage tips:

Let roasted peppers cool completely before storing.

Place peppers in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.
Add a bit of olive oil or sauce to keep peppers moist if needed.
Refrigerate and use within 2-3 weeks.

For longer storage, freeze roasted jalapenos for 4-6 months.

Label containers with the date and use roasted jalapenos within their prime window for the best flavor and texture. Don’t store at room temperature or they will spoil quickly.

Common Roasting Problems

Follow these tips to avoid potential issues when roasting jalapenos:

Problem	Solution
Under-roasted	Increase roasting time for more charring
Overly blackened	Watch closely; reduce roasting time
Bitter, acrid taste	Avoid burning; lower heat if needed
Not blistering	Raise oven heat or get grill/skillet hotter
Dry, crumbly texture	Don’t over-roast; salt after roasting

It takes some trial and error to learn ideal roasting times. Start checking peppers early and make adjustments to find that perfect balance of smoky char while keeping jalapenos tender.

Roasting Different Types of Jalapenos

There are a few common varieties of jalapenos that are great for roasting:

Green Jalapenos

The most widely available; medium heat. Bright green color. Excellent nutty jalapeno flavor when roasted.

Red Jalapenos

Fully ripe green jalapenos turned red on the vine; can be milder or hotter. Roast until deep red.

Orange Jalapenos

Also called Antillas; moderately hot. Roast until browned and wrinkled.

Chipotle Jalapenos

Smoked jalapenos; intense smoky flavor. Usually roasted while still green.

For the most control over heat levels, look for jalapenos labeled as mild. Ripe red jalapenos tend to have deeper flavor but vary in spiciness. Roasting any type well brings out their best qualities.

How to Substitute Fresh for Roasted Jalapenos

It’s easy to swap regular raw jalapenos for roasted ones:

For half the heat, use double the amount of fresh jalapenos.

Remove ribs and seeds from fresh peppers for a closer match.
Add a pinch of smoked paprika for roasted flavor.

When roasted jalapenos are needed for their unique cooked flavor, there’s no perfect stand-in for fresh. But combining extra fresh jalapenos with smoked paprika approximates the end result.

Conclusion

Roasting jalapenos is simple to do and transforms their flavor in delicious ways. Their spicy heat becomes more mellow and sweet-tangy roasted notes develop. Oven roasting, broiling, grilling, and pan roasting are all easy methods for blistering and charring jalapenos to perfection. Use roasted jalapenos anywhere you want to add a smoky-spicy kick from salsas to pizzas, tacos, sandwiches, meats, and more. Learn to control the level of spiciness by seeding before roasting. With proper storage, roasted jalapenos will keep for weeks to add instant flavor to your cooking. Fire-roasted jalapenos are a quick way to bring complex savory taste and mild chili flavor to everyday dishes.