

One of the pleasures of writing about food is getting a first taste of things that are just coming into season.
For example, we wait all year for flavorful Hatch chiles from New Mexico, and they arrive in August, only to be gone by mid- to late-September. Luckily, Melissa’s Produce throws a little Hatch tasting party and I get to sample the new season’s crop along with some new recipes.
Today I’ll share a simple Hatch Grilled Cheese Sandwich, because frankly, I couldn’t stop eating it at the party. I might have had three. And I might have wished I could justify two more. Melted cheesy goodness playing against lightly spicy Hatch in a crispy bread exterior…it just doesn’t get much better than that.
The recipe for the sandwich is in “Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook,” a charming cookbook chock full of 150 recipes that all use this popular green pepper in some form or another. I recommend it for you chile-heads.
I tasted…
Honey Mustard Pretzel Crunch (click for the recipe)
Hatch Chile Pinwheels (click for the recipe)
Six Bean Salad
Roasted Chile and Cheddar Tamales
Crab and Grilled Corn Chowder
And of course, the legendary Hatch Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
Fire up the panini maker or a simple skillet, and let’s make lunch!
GIVEAWAY!
And stay with me just below the recipe, because I have a giveaway for five lucky readers!
A classic grilled cheese with roasted Hatch somehow is even better than the sum of its parts!
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, softened
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into 1/3-inch thick slices (or use part cheddar and part mozzarella)
- 1 Hatch chile, roasted, peeled, stemmed, seeded and halved lengthwise
Directions
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough butter to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Layer the cheese and chiles onto 2 of the bread slices. Top with remaining 2 slices of bread. Cook the sandwiches on one side, turning after 5 minutes or when the first side is golden brown and the cheese has begun to melt. Cook on the other side just until golden brown. Serve hot.
- (You may also make these sandwiches in a panini maker or counter-top grill [such as a George Foreman]. Simply spread the butter on the outside of the sandwich and proceed!)
- Serves 2.
Notes
Recipe source: “Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook,” World Variety Produce; $19.95
“GET YOUR HATCH ON” GIVEAWAY!
I have a prize pack of…
- a copy of Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook
- an 18-ounce bag of fresh Hatch chiles
- a jar of Hatch salsa
- a shaker of dried Hatch chile powder
…for 5 lucky readers! Simply enter using the widget below, and good luck! You can read all the legalese here.
Good luck everyone,and may the Hatch be with you!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: Melissa’s Produce is providing and will ship the 5 prize packs.
There is a small company that opens a tent near me this time of year and they are roasting Hatch green chiles all day long. And I could eat them every day so I’m glad they’re close!
You are singing my song with this recipe! There is no better comfort food than grilled cheese and anything with Hatch chilies is a winner to me! Love this.
Be still my heart! I could never have enough Hatch green chile in my life. We pick up a huge amount every year in NM!
what a delicious grilled cheese! I NEED more grilled cheese like this in my life
I so wish hatch chiles were more readily available around me! This looks insanely good!!
I love a good grilled cheese. This looks wonderful!
I haven’t made anything with hatch chiles yet, but I would love to make mac & cheese with hatch chiles.
I love the chile & cheese combo! These grilled cheese sandwiches look legit!
I love hatch chilies, but seldom cook with them since my husband doesn’t care for them. I bought a package of 20 roasted hatch peppers anyway, and intend to cook dishes from your website for my friends and co-workers. Everything here looks so great!
Yay for Hatch Season. Here in Denver, the roasters have been fired up for a couple of weeks now. Love the aroma. My favorite thing to make is Green Chili with pork. And of course no other chile but Hatch goes in my recipe.
I love making green chile cheeseburgers!
We make a ton of casseroles in our home, so these would primarily be used for that.
would love to mix with ground pork and make fried wontons for quick appetitizers
I bought three pounds of hatch chiles yesterday and I’ve already made two different salsas and a delicious hatch quinoa salad. Can’t wait to make more with them!
I’d use the hatch chili to make chili.
I would use it in a chili with beans
I saw a recipe the other day for Chicken Enchiladas with Hatch Chile Sauce that sounded awesome! I would love this!
love Hatch chilis and need more ideas
I have no idea, but I love all the suggestions! I have never seen or eaten hatch chilies!!
Quesadilla!
Hatch Green Chilies . . . only the world’s best. Miss ‘em.
I have used them in King Ranch Chicken and will do so again!
I would like to make Chile Rellenos!
Hatch are my favorite chilies!
Since I’ve never made anything with Hatch chiles, I think I would make anything with them! I’m thinking some huevos rancheros or enchiladas? maybe some tostadas. The sky’s the limit!
I would love to have some Hatch chiles!!!! I think I’d start with your Hatch grilled cheese sandie. It’s raining like crazy here in Tahoe, and it would be perfect for dinner tonight!
I’m thinking of maybe some salmon grilled and then painted with the Hatch Chiles
I’d love to make a Hatch chili grilled cheese.
We LOVE Hatch chilies–my daughter especially. We like to make homemade salsa with our hatch chilies. Yum!
I just love New Mexico chilies!
One of my favorites is a sweet/savory corn pudding where the chiles add a touch of heat. I may just have to make it this week!
I love this!!! I’ve made cheese bread, spoon bread, salad dressing, cobbler, scones with Hatch chiles…. one of my favorite things ever!
I just recently made chili using Hatch peppers.
omg … I love Hatch chiles! And I can only image how AMAZING they are in a grilled cheese sandwich!
Okay, instead of imagining, I am going to make some this week!
Thanks for sharing this fab recipe!
I want to make the apple coffee cake with chilies in it!!!
What would I like to make with Hatch chiles? All of the above, starting with that grilled cheese. My tummy is RUMBLING!
I’d use the hatch chili to make chicken chili.
I have lot’s of ideas to use hatch chiles
They look delicious, I am so much in love with cheese grilled sandwiches and this is a perfect example for them. Thanks for the recipe, will be trying them for sure
Samara,
They were soooo good!