Pepperoncini Firecrackers Recipes

BRINE-PICKLED PEPERONCINI

Steps:

• Pour the water into a medium-sized sauce pan and warm over medium-low heat until it reaches about 100 F. Sprinkle in the salt, and whisk it into the hot water until it dissolves. Pour the warm saltwater into a pitcher, and let it cool to room temperature. Whisk in the starter culture, if using.
• Pack a quart-sized fermentation jar with whole pepperoncini, taking care not bruise them. Place the garlic cloves and bay leaf among the peperoncini, and pour in the cooled saltwater brine. Seal the crock, and allow the peppers to ferment for 10 days. Their color will fade and yellow. After about 10 days, open the crock and try a pepper. If you prefer a sourer flavor, continue fermenting the peppers until they acquire the flavor you like, testing every 5 to 7 days, at your leisure. Transfer to the refrigerator or cold storage. Brine-pickled peperoncini will last about 1 year, properly fermented.

PEPPERONCINI FIRECRACKERS

Steps:

• Remove 24 pepperoncinis from jar; remove and discard stems and seeds. Drain peppers on paper towels. Stuff each with a piece of chicken and a cheese strip (cheese may need to be cut to fit in some peppers).
• Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface (keep remaining dough covered with waxed paper to avoid drying out). Spritz dough with butter-flavored spray. Repeat three times; stack sprayed phyllo dough. Cut stacks into four pieces, about 6-1/2 inches x 4-1/4 inches each.
• Center one stuffed pepper on one long side of each phyllo stack; roll up and twist the ends to seal. Repeat with remaining peppers and dough. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Drizzle butter over center of firecrackers. Bake at 375° for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Tie ends with chives. Yield: 2 dozen.

STUFFED PEPPERONCINI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until bacon is browned. Move bacon to paper towels. Keep bacon drippings.
• In drippings, cook shallots and red pepper over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Cook about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and let cool for 20 minutes.
• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Stir bacon and shallot into the mixture.
• Spoon cream cheese mixture into a heavy weight plastic bag. Cut a small hole in one corner to squeeze the filling from. With small knife, cut a slit lengthwise into each pepper. Do not cut the whole way through the pepper. By squeezing the bag, pipe cream cheese mixture into peppers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to one day.

PICKLED PEPPERONCINI

Steps:

• Put pint jars (plus 1/2 pint, in case you have too many peppers) and lids in pan with water to boil, along with tongs and canning funnel. Bring to boil while continuing other steps. Reduce heat, or turn off after boiling for 10 minutes.
• Wash peppers in cold water, set aside to drain.
• Bring vinegar, water, and salt to a boil and maintain.
• Drain jars.
• Blanch garlic cloves and place in jars.
• Slit each pepper vertically and pack into jars. (I slit from the base of the stem down the pepper to within 1/4" of the bottom; this way there is no trapped air at the top causing peppers to float upside down, and enough juice to drizzle on the salad in the end of the pepper).
• Pour hot liquid over peppers allowing slightly more than 1/2" head space.
• Carefully pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into jar being very careful not to get any on lid.
• Process, as you wish (10 minutes in boiling water bath), or not. I do not process my pickles.
• Store in cool dark place. Ready in 3 weeks (but I have been known to open a jar the next day), refrigerate after opening.

PEPPERONCINI

Steps:

• Wearing rubber gloves,cut pepper rings into 1/4 inch slices and rinse out seeds.
• Place peppers in a bowl and cover with cold salted water Let set 1 hours then drain.
• Bring brine mixture to a boil.
• Place 1/2 tsp pickling salt and 1 clove garlic in each clean hot pint jar.
• Pack peppers tightly into clean hot pint jars.
• Cover peppers with brine and lLeave 1/2 inch head space.
• Seal with hot sterilized lids and process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.
• Leave for at least 4 weeks to"cure" before using.