Drying Fresh Chillies
Preserving your chilli harvest
It’s been far too long since I captivated you all with a post on my chillies and for that I must apologise. Whilst the internet world holds its breath awaiting news of my jolokia chillies (more of which later) I have been busy harvesting dozens upon dozens of different chillies which have been kind enough to ripen at a faster rate. My ‘chilli polytunnel’ is proverbialy ‘rammed’ with chilli bushes. I’ve overdone it this time.
As some of you may recall I have grown several varieties for several reasons. Each year I grow different types to photograph, record and taste for future reference. This year I have mixed it up more than previous years. I have gone from the very mild to the ‘bit of a bite’ to the sweat inducing. Move to greenhouses and welcome to the torture that is three strains of the habanero chilli; chocolate, orange and red which, according to my supplier induce ‘intense and prolonged oral suffering’ Oh yes! But it doesn’t stop there, the holy grail of nuclear chillies, the atom bomb that is the bhut jolokia is alive, well and growing in a seperate greenhouse. From the mild to the ridiculous.
Now I always grow a chilli which is particularly suited to drying, I have to have a large stock of bright red, freshly dried chillies in stock ready for the winter months, no question. These tend to be larger and milder, they give a curry paste, for example a rich colour and depth of flavour without the intensity of a hotter chilli. They are also fantastic in soups, pulses, stews and tagines.
I use my airing cupboard to dry my chillies, I find it the best way for my needs. Don’t be tempted to hang them in the sunlight, I’ve tried it and ended up with bleached chillies. I’ve had to take a lot of them to my work kitchens to dry, there are simply too many to dry at home. Leave them until they have properly dried but not shrivelled up. Store them in clean, bone dry jars in a cool, dark place. Use with carefree abandon.
Miles
That looks a great harvest of chillies. The wonderful thing about them is that they keep for future use and to warm us through the winter months. I am really getting into them through your on-line guidance.
Elsie
September 3, 2008 @ 8:05 am
Miles,
I had visions of you sewing them into garlands and having them draped all around your Victorian wooden clothes ‘maid’, high in the rafters
Is it possible to dry chillies in an oven set at it’s lowest temperature?
Cid ~ still on the lookout for rosehips
September 3, 2008 @ 8:53 am
I’ve had good results drying chillies in the oven with only the oven light turned on for heat. (We don’t use the oven very often in the summer.) I used an electric dehydrator for the first time this year, but it didn’t seem to preserve the brilliant red color as well as the oven method.
September 3, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
Elsie,
You need to eat chillies during the winter, they help to keep the cold at bay.
Miles
September 3, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Cid,
See below!
Miles
September 3, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Entangled,
I had thought about getting a dehydrator but I’m quite happy with the warm cupboard. Good idea about the oven, as you ay it’s really important to preserve the red colour.
Welcome back
Thanks for commenting again,
Miles
September 3, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
test comment
September 4, 2008 @ 5:48 pm