| A friend of mine once told me there is more | | | | my thumb nail, and it burned for three days |
| to the culinary life than chile peppers. He | | | | no matter how much I washed it off. So be |
| might be right, but he keeps telling me this | | | | careful, and we'll have some fun. Don't and |
| over my diner table, so go figure.The | | | | possible side effects might occur.Bajan |
| habanero chile (Capsicum chinense Jacquin) is | | | | Chicken*3 fresh Habanero chiles, stems & |
| the most intensely spicy chile pepper of the | | | | seeds removed, finely chopped*1 tablespoon |
| Capsicum genus. Unripe habaneros are green, | | | | Caribbean-style Habanero sauce (I like |
| but the color at maturity varies. Common | | | | Trinidad or Inner Beauty)*4 chicken breasts, |
| colors are orange and red, but white, brown, | | | | skin removed*6 green onions, finely chopped, |
| and pink are also seen.Most habaneros rate | | | | including tops*3 cloves garlic, minced*2 |
| 200,000-300,000 Scoville heat units (SHU), | | | | tablespoons fresh-squeezed lime juice*2 |
| with the Guinness Book of Records recognizing | | | | tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (I |
| the Red Savinas variety, developed by GNS | | | | substituted cilantro)*1/2 teaspoon ground |
| Spices of Southern California, as the | | | | cloves (Because of a personal anti-clove |
| 'World's Hottest Spice' at 580,000 SHU. For | | | | bias, I substituted cinnamon; thanks to my |
| comparison, a Cayenne pepper is typically | | | | dentist father, cloves remind me of stinky |
| 30,000 to 50,000 SHU while police-grade | | | | tooth decay ...)*1/2 teaspoon freshly ground |
| pepper spray rates 5,300,000 SHU. A typical | | | | black pepper*1 egg*1 tablespoon soy |
| Jalapeno pepper is about 4,500 Scoville | | | | sauce*Flour for dredging*3 cups dry |
| units. This means that 4,500 parts of sugar | | | | breadcrumbs*Vegetable oil for fryingCombine |
| water are required to dilute one part | | | | the chiles, green onions, garlic, lime juice, |
| Jalapeno extract until its heat can no longer | | | | parsley or cilantro, cloves (or cinnamon) and |
| be felt.Habaneros are believed to originate | | | | ground pepper. Cut deep gashes in the chicken |
| in Cuba. Other producers include Belize, the | | | | and fill with the mixture. Secure open end |
| Yucatan peninsula, Costa Rica and some US | | | | with a toothpick to keep the stuffing from |
| states including Texas, Idaho and | | | | falling out.Beat the egg and combine with the |
| California.The habanero's heat and delicate | | | | soy sauce and pepper sauce. Lightly dust the |
| fruity, citrus-like flavor make it a popular | | | | chicken with flour, dip in the egg mixture |
| ingredient in the hotter hot sauces and the | | | | and roll in the bread crumbs.Apricot-Habanero |
| spiciest of foods. We are going to discuss | | | | Barbecue SauceYou want to do this sauce over |
| some ways of using the habanero for our own | | | | and over again. |
| person cuisine, but keep in mind some to | | | | |
| those heat statistics above. You don't want | | | | A fruity sweetness, a rich vegetable aroma, |
| to accidentally get the juice from these | | | | and a dash of habanero makes this sauce just |
| peppers anywhere near your face or eyes. | | | | perfect for salmon, halibut, and catfish. Try |
| Recently I got a dose of habanero juice under | | | | this with poultry and pork too. |