| A friend of mine once told me there is more to the | | | | burned for three days no matter how much I washed |
| culinary life than chile peppers. He might be right, but he | | | | it off. So be careful, and we'll have some fun. Don't |
| keeps telling me this over my diner table, so go | | | | and possible side effects might occur.Bajan Chicken*3 |
| figure.The habanero chile (Capsicum chinense Jacquin) | | | | fresh Habanero chiles, stems & seeds removed, finely |
| is the most intensely spicy chile pepper of the | | | | chopped*1 tablespoon Caribbean-style Habanero |
| Capsicum genus. Unripe habaneros are green, but the | | | | sauce (I like Trinidad or Inner Beauty)*4 chicken |
| color at maturity varies. Common colors are orange | | | | breasts, skin removed*6 green onions, finely chopped, |
| and red, but white, brown, and pink are also seen.Most | | | | including tops*3 cloves garlic, minced*2 tablespoons |
| habaneros rate 200,000-300,000 Scoville heat units | | | | fresh-squeezed lime juice*2 tablespoons fresh parsley, |
| (SHU), with the Guinness Book of Records recognizing | | | | chopped (I substituted cilantro)*1/2 teaspoon ground |
| the Red Savinas variety, developed by GNS Spices of | | | | cloves (Because of a personal anti-clove bias, I |
| Southern California, as the 'World's Hottest Spice' at | | | | substituted cinnamon; thanks to my dentist father, |
| 580,000 SHU. For comparison, a Cayenne pepper is | | | | cloves remind me of stinky tooth decay ...)*1/2 |
| typically 30,000 to 50,000 SHU while police-grade | | | | teaspoon freshly ground black pepper*1 egg*1 |
| pepper spray rates 5,300,000 SHU. A typical Jalapeno | | | | tablespoon soy sauce*Flour for dredging*3 cups dry |
| pepper is about 4,500 Scoville units. This means that | | | | breadcrumbs*Vegetable oil for fryingCombine the |
| 4,500 parts of sugar water are required to dilute one | | | | chiles, green onions, garlic, lime juice, parsley or cilantro, |
| part Jalapeno extract until its heat can no longer be | | | | cloves (or cinnamon) and ground pepper. Cut deep |
| felt.Habaneros are believed to originate in Cuba. Other | | | | gashes in the chicken and fill with the mixture. Secure |
| producers include Belize, the Yucatan peninsula, Costa | | | | open end with a toothpick to keep the stuffing from |
| Rica and some US states including Texas, Idaho and | | | | falling out.Beat the egg and combine with the soy |
| California.The habanero's heat and delicate fruity, | | | | sauce and pepper sauce. Lightly dust the chicken with |
| citrus-like flavor make it a popular ingredient in the | | | | flour, dip in the egg mixture and roll in the bread |
| hotter hot sauces and the spiciest of foods. We are | | | | crumbs.Apricot-Habanero Barbecue SauceYou want |
| going to discuss some ways of using the habanero for | | | | to do this sauce over and over again. |
| our own person cuisine, but keep in mind some to | | | | A fruity sweetness, a rich vegetable aroma, and a |
| those heat statistics above. You don't want to | | | | dash of habanero makes this sauce just perfect for |
| accidentally get the juice from these peppers | | | | salmon, halibut, and catfish. Try this with poultry and |
| anywhere near your face or eyes. Recently I got a | | | | pork too. |
| dose of habanero juice under my thumb nail, and it | | | | |