| A friend of mine once told me there is more to the | | | | Combine the chiles, green onions, garlic, lime juice, |
| culinary life than chile peppers. He might be right, but | | | | parsley or cilantro, cloves (or cinnamon) and ground |
| he keeps telling me this over my diner table, so go | | | | pepper. Cut deep gashes in the chicken and fill with |
| figure. | | | | the mixture. Secure open end with a toothpick to |
| The habanero chile (Capsicum chinense Jacquin) is the | | | | keep the stuffing from falling out. |
| most intensely spicy chile pepper of the Capsicum | | | | Beat the egg and combine with the soy sauce and |
| genus. Unripe habaneros are green, but the color at | | | | pepper sauce. Lightly dust the chicken with flour, dip |
| maturity varies. Common colors are orange and red, | | | | in the egg mixture and roll in the bread crumbs. |
| but white, brown, and pink are also seen. | | | | Apricot-Habanero Barbecue Sauce |
| Most habaneros rate 200,000-300,000 Scoville heat | | | | You want to do this sauce over and over again. |
| units (SHU), with the Guinness Book of Records | | | | A fruity sweetness, a rich vegetable aroma, and a |
| recognizing the Red Savinas variety, developed by | | | | dash of habanero makes this sauce just perfect for |
| GNS Spices of Southern California, as the 'World's | | | | salmon, halibut, and catfish. Try this with poultry and |
| Hottest Spice' at 580,000 SHU. For comparison, a | | | | pork too. |
| Cayenne pepper is typically 30,000 to 50,000 SHU | | | | *1 yellow onion, finely chopped |
| while police-grade pepper spray rates 5,300,000 SHU. | | | | *2 cloves garlic |
| A typical Jalapeno pepper is about 4,500 Scoville units. | | | | *corn or canola oil |
| This means that 4,500 parts of sugar water are | | | | *1 yellow bell pepper, roasted, peeled, and seeded |
| required to dilute one part Jalapeno extract until its | | | | *2/3 cup (150 g) dried apricots |
| heat can no longer be felt. | | | | *1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinager |
| Habaneros are believed to originate in Cuba. Other | | | | *3 tablespoons (1/2 dl) brown sugar |
| producers include Belize, the Yucatan peninsula, Costa | | | | *1 1/4 cups (3 dl) water |
| Rica and some US states including Texas, Idaho and | | | | *1 tablespoon Colmans powdered mustard |
| California. | | | | *4 tablespoon habanero hot sauce |
| The habanero's heat and delicate fruity, citrus-like | | | | *salt |
| flavor make it a popular ingredient in the hotter hot | | | | In a pan, sauté the onion and garlic in a little oil |
| sauces and the spiciest of foods. We are going to | | | | until soft. Add the remaining ingredients, except the |
| discuss some ways of using the habanero for our | | | | mustard powder and habanero. Simmer, covered, for |
| own person cuisine, but keep in mind some to those | | | | 20 minutes, or until the apricots are soft. Pour into a |
| heat statistics above. You don't want to accidentally | | | | food processor. Season with mustard powder, |
| get the juice from these peppers anywhere near | | | | habanero, and salt while processing to a smooth |
| your face or eyes. Recently I got a dose of | | | | sauce. (Serves 4) |
| habanero juice under my thumb nail, and it burned for | | | | Spicy Island Hot Sauce |
| three days no matter how much I washed it off. So | | | | *1 ripe papaya, peeled, seeded & coarsely chopped |
| be careful, and we'll have some fun. Don't and | | | | *1 med yellow onion, coarsely chopped |
| possible side effects might occur. | | | | *2 med cloves garlic, minced |
| Bajan Chicken | | | | *4 Habanero peppers, stemmed & seeded |
| *3 fresh Habanero chiles, stems & seeds removed, | | | | *1in piece fresh ginger, peeled & coarsely chopped |
| finely chopped | | | | *1/3 cup dark rum |
| *1 tablespoon Caribbean-style Habanero sauce (I like | | | | *1/3 cup fresh lime juice |
| Trinidad or Inner Beauty) | | | | *1 tsp salt |
| *4 chicken breasts, skin removed | | | | *2 1/2 tsp honey |
| *6 green onions, finely chopped, including tops | | | | *1/8 tsp cardamom |
| *3 cloves garlic, minced | | | | *1/8 tsp anise |
| *2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lime juice | | | | *1/8 tsp cloves |
| *2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (I substituted | | | | *1/8 tsp turmeric |
| cilantro) | | | | *pinch of nutmeg |
| *1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (Because of a personal | | | | *pinch of cinnamon |
| anti-clove bias, I substituted cinnamon; thanks to my | | | | *freshly ground black pepper to taste |
| dentist father, cloves remind me of stinky tooth | | | | Combine all ingredients in blender and puree just until |
| decay ...) | | | | smooth (do not over-blend and aerate). Pour into |
| *1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper | | | | saucepan & bring to boil, simmer gently, uncovered |
| *1 egg | | | | for about 10 min. Remove from heat & allow to cool |
| *1 tablespoon soy sauce | | | | before bottling. Refrigerate, Sauce will keep approx. 6 |
| *Flour for dredging | | | | weeks. Makes 2 cups. |
| *3 cups dry breadcrumbs | | | | Enjoy. |
| *Vegetable oil for frying | | | | |