Recipe: Smoked Jalapeno Poppers (Guest Post from Fearless Grill)

Recipe Source: Based on a recipe from Emeril Lagasse, found on the Food Network's web site at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/baked-jalapeno-poppers-recipe/index.html

We planted a bunch of different types of hot peppers in our garden this summer, and our jalapenos recently ripened, providing us with a huge bounty of peppers. I decided to use some of these up by making some jalapeno poppers on my Big Green Egg. I started searching for a recipe, but all the ones that I could find written for the Egg wrapped the peppers in bacon. This would normally be OK, but for some reason, the Fearless Fetus is less than enamored with pork, and Jess won't eat it right now. After some web searching, I found this recipe by Emeril that tries to duplicate the texture and flavor of the fried poppers you would get in a restaurant, but calls for baking them instead. This looked perfect. By baking them in the Egg and adding a little smoke, I could get what I was looking for without having to totally rework the recipe.

I made a few modifications to the recipe. First, jalapeno poppers are traditionally stuffed with cream

cheese, and this recipe was no exception. However, Jess really doesn't like cream cheese, and wasn't looking forward to eating these. I mentioned this to our friend Ruth, who said 'why not stuff them with goat cheese instead', so I did. I also substituted a spice rub I already had on hand from our last brisket cook for Emeril's signature 'Essence', since I wanted to use it up. And of course, I cooked my poppers on my Big Green Egg smoker, rather than in the oven as the original recipe suggests.

The poppers came out really good. The goat cheese made a great substitute for the cream cheese, adding a different flavor and a nice texture when baked. They picked up a nice smoky flavor from being cooked in the Egg, and the breading, which I was somewhat skeptical of when I read it, worked nicely to mimic the texture of fried poppers. We both decided this recipe was a keeper, and we'll be serving it again soon.

12 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise with seeds and membranes removed

6 ounces goat cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons milk

8 teaspoons spice rub – use your favorite, or mix up some of Emiril's Essence from the link above

1 cup unflavored breadcrumbs

1/2 cup all purpose flour

Hardwood chips or chunks for smoking (optional)

1. Prepare the stuffing by creaming together the cheeses, cumin, and cayenne in a bowl.
2. To prepare for the assembly of your poppers, you will be preparing three bowls of ingredients that will comprise the breading. First, beat together the eggs, milk, and two teaspoons of your spice rub. In a second dish, combine the bread crumbs and 4 teaspoons of the spice rub. In a third, combine the flour and remaining two teaspoons of rub.
3. To prepare each popper:
   1. Fill each pepper half with enough cheese mixture to reach the top, or a bit higher.
   2. Dredge in the flour
   3. Dip in the egg mixture
   4. Roll in the breadcrumbs to coat
4. Preheat your Smoker / oven to 350 degrees. In my large Big Green Egg, I set up for indirect cooking with my plate setter legs up, and the grate on top of the legs. I added a couple of chunks of apple wood to my fire.
5. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese mixture is runny, and the breading is a nice golden-brown color.

Serve immediately with a cold beer.

Comments

[The Duo Dishes]

Using goat cheese is a great idea. Creamy to go with the spice. They look beyond excellent.

[Chris]

I'm glad you said it as I thought it, I would have been skeptical too! So the breading came out relatively crisp and not soggy? That does surprise me. I've read about folks who put breaded chicken wing on the egg and thought it couldn't really work. Now that you braved the waters, maybe I'll give it a shot:)

[Sophie]

What divine & tasty appetizers!! So apart!! What a great idea!!

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