Stater Bros. and Food4Less to host Hatch chile roastings in the High Desert

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·4 min read
One Stater Bros. grocery store in Hesperia and a Food4Less in Victorville will host Hatch chili roasting events over the next month.
One Stater Bros. grocery store in Hesperia and a Food4Less in Victorville will host Hatch chili roasting events over the next month.

Much like the swallows returning yearly to Capistrano, Hatch chiles from New Mexico are returning to supermarkets in the High Desert.

Most culinary experts know that Hatch chiles, known for their versatility in various dishes, are only available from early August through late September. They also know that roasting them maximizes the pepper’s smoky, rich, and mildly spicy flavor profile.

Chefs and home cooks say that Hatch chiles are a perfect addition to any recipe that needs a little bit of zing and smoky flavor.

Hatch chiles can be added to burgers, salads, stews, soups, sandwiches, or dips. They can also be used in breakfast recipes, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and other dishes.

A Stater Bros. grocery store in Hesperia and a Food4Less store in Victorville will host Hatch chili roasting events over the next month.

Stater Bros.

During this year’s Hatch Chile Campaign, Stater Bros is partnering with Aramburo Produce, Progressive Produce, and Westlake Produce to host its annual roast event at select Stater Bros. parking lots.

Hundreds of Hesperia customers are expected to purchase Hatch chiles from the Main Street Stater Bros., then watch as workers roast the peppers from 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 2.

Stater Bros. customers can have their peppers roasted for free when they purchase a 10 or 25-pound box at the store. The chile roasting process takes about five minutes for one small batch before they are ready to be re-boxed for the customer, who can take them home to peel.

Roasting events at other Stater Bros. stores can be located by visiting staterbros.com/hatchchile.

Stater Bros. will host an outdoor Hatch chili roasting event on September 2 at 16904 Main Street in Hesperia.
Stater Bros. will host an outdoor Hatch chili roasting event on September 2 at 16904 Main Street in Hesperia.

Ralph’s and Food4Less 

This year, through September, local Ralphs and Food4Less stores in Southern California will feature Frieda’s Hatch chile pepper roastings.

In the High Desert, the roasting will occur on Aug. 26 at Food4Less located at 16266 Bear Valley Road in Victorville.

Stores will offer 25-pound boxes. Heat levels include mild, medium, hot, and extra hot.

Preorders will open the Monday before each event and close the Thursday before. Walk-ups will be available on a first-come first-serve basis.

For roasting times and more information, visit friedas.com/ralphshatch.

Most culinary experts know that Hatch chiles, known for their versatility in various dishes, are only available from early August through late September. They also know that roasting them maximizes the pepper’s smoky, rich, and mildly spicy flavor profile.
Most culinary experts know that Hatch chiles, known for their versatility in various dishes, are only available from early August through late September. They also know that roasting them maximizes the pepper’s smoky, rich, and mildly spicy flavor profile.

Roasting Hatch chiles at home

Wash peppers thoroughly under cold water and then pat dry with a towel.

Roast peppers for four to five minutes on a constant flame until the skin is roasted evenly on all sides. The peppers will become softer and have a char on the outside when they’re ready.

Pepper can also be broiled in the oven on a baking sheet. To do so, place peppers flat on an oven-safe baking sheet lined with aluminum foil for four to five minutes and then flip over and continue broiling for an additional four to five minutes.

For an even char throughout the peppers, remove the chiles from heat and allow the peppers to “steam” inside a closed paper bag, heat-safe plastic bag, or heat-safe container with a lid for 15 minutes.

After peppers finish steaming, they should be cool enough to handle, and if not then allow them to cool before peeling. Wearing gloves while peeling and chopping is recommended.

Peel the outer skin by hand and remove the pepper's stem by slicing it off.

If you’d like to reduce the amount of heat remove the seeds and veins inside the pepper by slicing it open down the middle and removing the insides with a spoon. If you like heat, keep everything inside.

After that, chiles can be chopped as desired or kept at full size.

Store chiles in containers and or zip lock bags. Make sure to seal the container or if you’re using a bag, squeeze all the air out and seal completely.

It is recommended to store the peppers within 2 hours of roasting to keep the maximum flavor. Securely sealed peppers are safe to store in the freezer for up to 12 to 18 months.

Hatch chile facts

  • One fresh, medium-sized pepper has as much Vitamin C as six oranges.

  • Hatch chiles are a generic form of green pepper that shares certain traits with the Anaheim pepper.

  • According to the Scoville Scale, most Hatch chiles score between 1,500 and 2,500 units — about the same heat level as poblano or Anaheim peppers and just below Jalapeno peppers, which measure 2,500–8,000 units.

  • Experts say the flavor of the Hatch chiles comes from the soil and growing conditions in the Hatch Valley, where the rich minerals produce unique and tasty flavors

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Food4Less, Stater Bros. to host Hatch chile roasts in the High Desert