Cajun Jalapeno Poppers

Lande Hoffman's Note:

This recipe came from taste testing poppers all over. I combined what I liked and discarded the rest. You can use fresh peppers or prepackaged peppers (not recommended,to soft). If I use fresh, I sometimes like to slice them in half, leaving the stem, de-vein and seed them and saute' them in my favorite beer to soften them up just a little (2-4 minutes). Another tip is to always use protective cooking gloves when dealing with peppers.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 18 fresh fresh jalapeno peppers
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 3 ounces of shredded cheese (cheese of your choice or any mixture, I use 2 or more of the following parmesan, cheddar, colby, ric)
• progresso breadcrumbs
• 1 clove pressed garlic
• 1/2 ounce olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped cilantro (optional)
• 12 slices pimientos, finely chopped
• 3 pinches cayenne pepper (1tablespoon or to taste)

Optional additions

• 1 ounce finely chopped mushroom (optional)
• 2 -3 ounces of finely chopped cooked meat (crawfish,ground meat or sausage) (optional)
• queso sauce (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
• picante sauce (optional)
• ranch dressing (optional)

Directions:

1. Halve the jalapenos leaving the stem attached, de-vein and seed them.
2. Setting the halved jalapenos and bread crumbs aside, mix all of the other ingredients together.
3. Take your mixture and completely fill the jalepeno cavities to their brim and set aside.
4. Put bread crumbs on a flat plate.
5. Take jalapeno halves, one at a time, and roll cheese side only in bread crumbs and place cheese/crumb side up on a baking pan Once completed if you like a thick crumb layer, you can repeat this step.
6. If you do not intend to bake finished product skip the rolling part and just lightly sprinkle the top of the jalepenos with the bread crumbs.
7. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until mixture starts to bubble.
8. I like to refrigerate at least 1 hour prior to baking Sometimes I prepare the day before, cover and refrigerate.
9. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled with any or all of the recommended sauces.

Reviews

[jaynine]

These were really hot, I was afraid it was too much cayenne (used a full tablespoon), but the Cajun folks at the party couldn't get enough. I followed the suggestion of sauteing the peppers in beer first, I left out the pimientos, and used a mixture of colby jack and cheddar (in addition to the cream cheese).

[Chef #534338]

these did not turn out very well but i will contribute that to me being in a hurry and short on ingredients, rather than the recipe. i didn't have nearly enough cream cheese so I made up for it with mozerella, ricotta, and parmesan. I also did not saute the peppers as suggested. Mine turned out bland and too dry. but i will try them again soon and actually follow the recipe which seems pretty sound.

[kerrbear]

These were so good. And I was worried about what to do with my accidental bumper crop of jalapeno peppers.