Recipe: Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeños are spicy chili peppers from the hot pepper family. They are big, green or red in color and moderately spicy. They are commonly used in Mexican cuisine but popular worldwide. They're also packed with nutrients and have many health benefits. Some of them are:

1. High in Nutrients
2. Can Promote Weight Loss
3. May Fight Cancer
4. Can Be Natural Pain Relievers
5. Can Help Prevent Stomach Ulcers
6. Help Fight Infections
7. Can Keep Your Heart Healthy

Jalapeño Poppers commonly known as Stuffed Mirchi Bajji in India. It is a spicy snack similar to a fritter, one of the most famous street food of the South. Its best served hot. This dish is best suited for cold rainy evenings. Usually served with ketchup or coriander mint chutney. Best sided with tea.

photo credit: @cherrythinks

• Total: 45 minutes
• Prep: 15 mins-20 mins
• Inactive: 10 min
• Cook: 10 min
• Yield: 4 servings
• Level: Easy
• Cuisine: Indian

To make Jalapeño Poppers

Salt, chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, dry mango powder, ginger & green chili paste needs to be added to boiled mashed potatoes. Fresh big green jalapeños needs to be washed and slit from one side, in order to fill it with potato stuffing. Then it needs to be dipped in the gram flour batter followed by deep frying it until crisp golden brown. Best served with ketchup or coriander mint chutney. Best sided with tea.

Ingredients for Stuffing:

• 9 big size fresh Jalapeños
• 3 small size Green Chillies (finely chopped)
• 4 medium size Boiled Potatoes
• 1 medium Onion finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp Ginger & Green Chili Paste
• 1 tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves
• Salt as required
• 1 tsp Kashmiri Red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1 pinch Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Dry Mango powder

Ingredients for Batter:

• 1 cup Gram Flour (Besan)
• 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
• Salt as required
• 1 pinch Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Ginger & Garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp Carom Seeds
• 1 tsp Fenugreek leaves
• Water

How to start?

1. Boil, peel and mash the potatoes
2. Wash the jalapeños
3. In a pan heat the oil
4. Spread the oil absorbent tissue on a platter

Step 1: Stuffing

1. Now, in order to make the stuffing, mix the ingredients accordingly.
2. To start with peel the boiled potatoes and in a bowl mash it gently.
3. Now add all the remaining ingredients of the stuffing one by one and mash it properly.
4. Add salt, red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, dry mango powder, ginger & green chili paste to the mashed potatoes and mix well.
5. Then add chopped coriander leaves and onion to it and gently mix it in order to avoid lumps. Keep it aside.
   photo credit: @cherrythinks

Step 2: Slit Jalapeños

1. Rinse jalapeños in water. Pat it dry and then keep aside.
2. With a small knife slit one side of the green chili, big enough to deseed and to stuff the filling.
3. Keep the bottom part of the stem intact in order to keep the stuffing from falling apart.
4. Deseed and keep aside.
   photo credit: @cherrythinks

Step 3: Batter

1. Mix the ingredients of the batter and stir it gently to make a smooth paste. See that no lumps are formed.
2. Add water gradually.
3. Keep in mind to keep the consistency of the batter thick.
   photo credit: @cherrythinks

Step 4: Deep Fry

1. Stuff the deseeded jalapeños with the mashed potatoes.
2. Now take a pan and pour 2 cups of oil in it. Allow it to heat.
3. Dip the stuffed jalapeños in the batter, and then put it in the heated oil for deep frying.
4. Fry it in medium flame, till crisp golden brown.
5. Serve hot with ketchup or coriander mint chutney. Best sided with tea.
   photo credit: @cherrythinks

Note:
Tsp = Tea spoon
Tbsp = Table spoon