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Late Summer Chilli Harvest: What to do with all that Heat!
Beyond their bold aesthetic and fiery personalities, chillies offer a myriad of nutritional benefits and serve as potent contributors to your natural medicine cabinet, boasting a rich profile of vitamins, antioxidants, and compounds that have been associated with various health benefits, from boosting metabolism and immune system function to alleviating pain and promoting cardiovascular, skin and eye health.
It's this time of the year, these last long days of summer. Right when the heat is *just* easing off just a little. Just perceptibly cooler, right at dawn, and again right at dusk. That's when the chillies are ready to offer their warmth to your basket. Chillies are a generously cropping plant and sometimes it's hard to know what to do when you're presented with a large amount of something you generally only need a small amount of in a meal. The worst is when you get stuck and end up losing half the crop to the compost bin!
Don't make this easy mistake when there are so many simple and amazing things to make with chillies that take minimal time, equipment or know-how. These suggestions are perfect to add into your meals for a simple nutrition boost and make great gifts to have on hand - just pop a pretty ribbon or paper cap on the jar and stick a descriptive label on the front.
Methods of Preserving Chillies
Drying Chillies:
- Lay out the chillies in a single layer on a baking sheet or string them together to create a decorative chilli ristra.
- Allow them to air-dry for several weeks or use a dehydrator for a faster process.
- Once dried, you can grind them into flakes or chilli powder or keep them whole for cooking.
- Dried ground chillies are a great addition to your pet chicken's diet - acting as a natural de-wormer
Pickling:
- Create a pickling solution using vinegar, water, salt, and sugar.
- Pack the chilies into sterilised jars and pour the pickling solution over them.
- Let the jars sit for a few weeks before using for optimal flavour development.
Hot Sauce:
- Blend the chillies with garlic, vinegar, and salt to create a homemade hot sauce.
- Strain the mixture and transfer the liquid to sterilised bottles.
Chilli Oil:
- Infuse olive or vegetable oil with dried chillies for a flavorful cooking, dripping or dipping oil.
- Heat the oil and chillies together over low heat, then strain and store in a glass bottle.
Hot Honey:
- Combine honey and chopped fresh chillies in a saucepan.
- Heat gently to infuse the honey with chilli flavour, not allowing to boil. Strain before storing.
Chilli Salt:
- Mix finely ground dried chillies with sea salt.
- Or, blend the fresh chillies and salt together and then spread out to dry on a paper-lined tray to air dry, or dry in a very low oven.
- Use this as a seasoning for various dishes, or to rim a margarita glass ;)
Freezing:
- Clean and chop the chillies before freezing them in small portions.
- Use airtight containers or sealable bags to prevent freezer burn.
Chilli Jams and Preserves:
- Cook fresh chilies with sugar and pectin to create spicy jams or preserves.
- These can be used as condiments or glazes for meats.
Chilli Infused Vinegar:
- Fill a bottle with white vinegar and add a few fresh or dried chillies.
- Let it sit for a few weeks for a spicy vinegar perfect for salads or marinades.
Chilli-Infused Spirits:
- Add sliced chilies to a bottle of vodka or tequila for a spicy kick.
- Allow it to infuse for a week or more before straining and using in cocktails.
Remember to label and date your creations, and experiment with different chili varieties for unique flavours. Enjoy the fruits of your late summer harvest throughout the year!
Check out Eden Seeds range of heritage, non-hybrid chilli seeds here
