Colorado Proud's September Recipe of the Month - Pueblo Chile Cornbread

September brings us to the cusp of fall, so the Colorado Proud Recipe of the month is bringing a warm and savory classic. We are taking the world famous Pueblo Green Chile and adding it to a corn bread to complement your main entree.

The Pueblo chile is a staple in Colorado and comes with a bit of competition with our neighbors in New Mexico. The Pueblo chile pungency ranges between 5,000 and 20,000 Scoville Heat Units, the measurement method used to rank the spiciness of chile peppers. Pueblo chiles are comparable to moderate jalapeño peppers, and are usually a little spicier than cayenne peppers. The growing conditions in southeastern Colorado produce some of the best chiles available. Hot, dry, sunny summer days, combined with our rich soils and pure Colorado water, yield some of the hottest and most flavorful chiles. Watch out for the little ones – they tend to pack more heat (Pueblo Chile Growers Association). The meaty and flavorful chiles add a local flare to any recipe, so get your jam and butter ready for this tasty Colorado Proud cornbread.

Each month the Colorado Department of Agriculture features a different ag commodity to highlight the variety and quality of products grown and raised in the state. For September, Chef Jason Morse of 5280 Culinary brings us a savory treat for fall.  Chef Jason says, “Fire up the grill and let’s roast off those Pueblo Chiles. Next we take those amazing chiles and create a cornbread that will be the envy of your next dinner party.  Packed with corn, cheese and chiles, this is the life of the party!” 

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Pueblo Chile Cornbread 

Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary, LLC and Ace Hardware Grill Expert

Dry Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup cornmeal, yellow (course or fine ground)

1 ¼ cup flour, all purpose

1 tsp. salt, kosher or sea

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tbsp. baking powder

¼ cup sugar, brown, dry, packed

Wet Ingredients:

1 stick butter, salted (softened to room temperature)

½ cup Mexican crema

2  large eggs

1 ¼ cup milk, whole

1 cup Pueblo chiles, roasted, peeled and diced

1 cup Colorado corn kernels

1 cup  sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

Prep Directions:

• Wash all tools prior to use
• Clean and sanitize all cutting boards and prep surfaces prior to use
• Read all manufacturer’s instructions before using ovens, grills, or any cooking tools

Cooking Directions:

1. Grill and roast your Pueblo Chiles until desired doneness is achieved. Here you can find a simple way to roast chilies at home if you have not already purchased them roasted. **Chef’s Tip – After roasting chiles, place into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, that will help steam off the charred parts, leaving the chile intact.
2. Heat your oven to 400˚ F.
3. While the oven is heating up – Line a 10” Cast Iron Skillet with Parchment paper and lightly spray.
4. Add all the dry ingredients into a bowl. Mix well to combine.
5. Using a new bowl, place the softened butter and crema into the bowl and mix until combined. Add the milk, diced chiles, corn kernels and cheese. Mix until combined. Allow to rest for approx. 5 minutes.
6. Carefully add half of the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until combined.
7. Add the rest of the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix until fully incorporated and just mixed.
8. Pour this mixture into the cast iron skillet and level out if needed.
9. Place into the oven at 400˚ F.
10. Cook for 35-45 minutes or until desired doneness is reached. Check for doneness by inserting a clean, dry, toothpick into the center and removing it clean at the 35 minute mark.
11. Using heat proof gloves, carefully remove the cornbread from the oven. Rest for a minimum of 10 minutes to allow the cornbread to cool and firm up.
12. Serve with honey butter if desired.
13. Store any leftovers loosely covered overnight, do not refrigerate.
14. Devour !!!

This savory side pairs well with many adult beverages. This month, we recommend a new canned wine from Odell Brewing in Fort Collins: Final Touch. The 100% Aromella juice spent 9 days on the skins, imparting a light amber color. Naturally fermented, this wine is aged for eight months in beer barrels from Odell Brewing Co. and is unfined and unfiltered. Enjoy this funky, acid-driven adventure in modern American wine. The grapes hail from Grand Valley, Colorado. Skipping alcohol? Try some apple cider kombucha from Life’s a Buch also in Fort Collins.

Visit ColoradoProud.org for a complete list of recipes.