MAKE JALAPENO POPPERS AT HOME. This recipe was inspired by my mother's signature party appetizer: Jalapeño Poppers. Her husband frequently brings home a crate of this and a bushel of that when his work researching sustainability leads him into the fields with local farmers. My mom's Jalapeño Poppers were born from a bounty of fresh-picked peppers. A variety of local peppers are easy to find this time of year, so feel free to switch them up in this recipe.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup chopped pimientos (roasted red pepper)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion
- 8 large jalapeños
- 8 strips bacon
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
Makes 8 peppers
- Heat oven to 375°.
- Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, pimientos, and green onion in a large bowl; stir with rubber spatula until thoroughly mixed. Refrigerate while preparing peppers.
- Using a paring knife, make 2 cuts forming a "T" by first slicing crosswise ¼-inch below the stem, being careful to leave the stem intact. Then, starting at the center of the crosswise slice, cut lengthwise down to the tip of the pepper.
- Carefully open the flaps like a book to expose the interior; remove the core and scrape the inside to remove seeds and ribs. Rinse peppers thoroughly to remove any remaining seeds.
- Fill each pepper with 1-2 tablespoons pimiento cheese, depending on size. Wrap bacon tightly around each pepper and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven, brush generously with honey. Return to oven and bake until bacon is crisping around edges and peppers are soft, 5-10 additional minutes. Let cool. Serve with lime wedges to squeeze over top.
*Notes:
Artisan Cheese Company on Main Street in downtown Sarasota makes the best Pimiento Cheese Spread I've ever had, packaged or otherwise -- not to say my recipe isn’t delicious, but a girl's gotta give credit where credit is due! Stop in and pick up a batch and make this recipe even easier to whip up.
