Roasted Hatch Chile Jam

Sweet, sticky, spicy, and a little sultry. Roasted Hatch Chile Jam is the snap, crackle, and pop of condiments you need in your life. With fireworks of both flavors and textures, the question isn’t what you’ll put it on, but what you’ll put it on next.

Whether you want to dress up your Smoked Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich or take your Juicy Smoked Burgers to the next level, you will find yourself adding this luscious jam to everything. Spread it, smear it, spoon it directly into your mouth… just make it!

Recommended Equipment

Grill or Broiler – These Hatch chiles don’t roast themselves! You’ll need a heat source that can scorch the outside of the chiles, allowing them to blister and peel.

Saucepan – The stovetop does all the work for this effortless creation. Once the chiles are roasted, everything else comes together quickly with minimal effort.

Food Processor – Stick with this, a blender really purees the jam too much. Having a nice coarse texture is really important and adds to the experience. Here’s the food processor I use.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Go ahead, crack open a beer and toast to your new favorite condiment. Combining pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients, this will become your jam when it comes to roasted Hatch chile recipes. 

• Roasted Hatch chiles – Buttery, smoky, earthy, and a little bitter, these prized chiles are the stars of this savory jam. The roasted Hatch chiles can be prepared ahead of time, and you can also use roasted Hatch chiles you may have frozen.
• Neutral oil  – Canola oil, avocado oil, and vegetable oil are all good options. 
• White onion – Pungent yet mellow, this mildly sweet onion will build the first layer of savory flavor to balance the sweetness. 
• Garlic cloves – Aromatic and sharp, garlic adds another layer of savoriness while also sweetening as it cooks. 
• Amber beer/Apple juice – Complex yet smooth, this malty beer has a slightly toffee-like flavor that pairs well with a sweet and savory jam. Use your favorite for drinking in this recipe as the flavor will concentrate as it simmers down and reduces. You can also substitute the beer with apple juice. The apple juice will be a little lighter in flavor but add both a crisp and sweet backnote. 
• Apple cider vinegar – This jam is all about balance. Apple cider vinegar adds a brightness that wakes everything up while also adding tang. In addition, it helps softly pickle the mustard seeds. 

• Yellow mustard seeds – Sharp, bright, and spicy in the way of horseradish, these bring bold flavor and a fun pop of texture. There are just enough to wake up your taste buds and make them take notice, but not enough to overpower the roasted Hatch chiles. They will also soften as the jam simmers.
• Brown sugar – The caramel flavor of brown sugar pairs well with the toffee notes of the amber beer. There is just enough brown sugar in this recipe to create that decadent jammy texture that will have you spreading this on everything, but not so much sugar that it takes over. 
• Ground Cumin – Earthy, a little citrusy, and deeply aromatic, cumin highlights the smoky flavors of the roasted Hatch chiles while perfuming all of the jam.
• Salt – Salt amplifies all of the ingredients, pulling out and accenting their natural flavors while tying everything together. 
• Water – Just a bit allows the ingredients to simmer and reduce, letting their flavors concentrate without concentrating too much.

Steps to Make Hatch Chile Jam

Fire up the grill and start dreaming of biting into a juicy and drippy Hatch chile burger draped in this sweet and savory jam. With just a few simple steps you will be celebrating the best of Hatch chile season with this versatile and delicious condiment.

1. Saute – Heat your medium-sized saucepan over medium heat with your oil, onions, and garlic. Allow them to cook until they are fragrant, tender, and the onions are translucent. 
2. Hatch Time – Now it’s time for the MVP of this jam to join the party. Add your Hatch chiles and cumin. The cumin will lightly toast, waking up its flavor. Let everything cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. 
3. Deglaze – Pop that beer and give your Hatch chile mixture a splash, and then save the rest for yourself. Don’t forget to scrape up any little brown bits that have accumulated on the bottom of your pan. Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce for 3-5 minutes. 
4. Simmer – Add your remaining ingredients to the pan and let it come to a boil. Once it’s boiling reduce the heat and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes. Go ahead and pop another beer as the mixture thickens and darkens in color. Just don’t forget to stir it occasionally as the liquid evaporates and the ingredients concentrate. 
5. That’s My Jam – Transfer your Roasted Hatch Chile Jam to a food processor and pulse it until you’ve achieved your desired consistency. Go ahead, dip that spoon in and give it a taste test. If it needs a little more salt, season accordingly. 

Storing the Hatch Chile Jam

Once the jam has cooled and has been processed, let it cool to room temp before you store it. However, don’t be afraid to use it while it’s still warm! It’s incredible with goat cheese and crackers, right away.

Just like many sauces, the flavors develop and enhance over the next day. The jam will naturally thicken as well, providing you with the ultimate condiment.

How long with Hatch Chile Jam Last?

Transfer your finished jam to an airtight container and allow it to cool. Once it’s cooled you can refrigerate it for up to 2-3 weeks…if you don’t eat it all first!

Looking for More Hatch Chile Recipes?

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