El Pinto ★ 4.5
El Pinto opened in 1962 to serve one family's recipes at 10500 4th Street NW, and now bottles its own salsa and sauces for stores nationwide.
History
Hatch is a place, not a variety: the Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University says the name marks the area where the chile is grown, about 40 miles north of the university, where the New Mexican pod type was first commercially grown. The pod type was bred at NMSU by Dr. Fabian Garcia, whose New Mexico No. 9 was released in 1913. Green chile is harvested from August through the middle of October and is typically roasted, peeled and frozen for the year ahead. El Pinto cooks with fresh roasted Hatch chile, and Indian Pueblo Kitchen's green chile stew uses roasted Hatch green chile.
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 1kg fresh Hatch green chile (or Anaheim as a substitute)
- Tongs
- A heat proof bowl with lid or plastic wrap
- A gas stove, broiler, or outdoor grill
Method
- Place whole chiles directly over a high flame on a gas burner or grill, or under a broiler set to high.
- Turn frequently with tongs until the skin chars and blisters black on every side, about 4 to 6 minutes per side.
- Transfer hot chiles to a bowl and cover tightly. Let them steam 10 minutes; the skins lift on their own.
- Peel off the blackened skin with fingers or a paper towel. Rinse briefly if needed; some prefer to keep the char.
- Remove the stem and seeds. Chop or leave whole. Freeze flat in zip bags for up to 12 months.
Tip from the editors. Wear gloves. Heat varies from pod to pod, so taste one before you stock up; the harvest runs August to mid October.
Where to eat hatch green chile
Hatch green chile in Albuquerque
Indian Pueblo Kitchen ★ 4.1
Indian Pueblo Kitchen is inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center at 2401 12th Street NW, serving cuisine owned and operated by New Mexico's 19 Pueblos.
Why locals goLocated inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, it is owned and operated by New Mexico's 19 Pueblos and features homemade stews, fresh breads and bakery items.
TipThe kitchen does not accept reservations, so just turn up: seating is first-come, first-served.
The Frontier Restaurant ★ 4.8
The Frontier Restaurant is an American diner at 2400 Central Ave SE, serving breakfasts, burritos and burgers from 5am until 12am, seven days a week.
TryBreakfast burrito and cinnamon rolls heated to order
More cities are in research. Want hatch green chile covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.