Amazing Colorado Style Green Chile (Chili)

Colorado-style green chile is a local favorite. While there are many good recipes, I stand by this as a great recipe. Dare I say the best? Oh, I do!

I have made my famous green chile and taken it to chile cook-offs. Vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores all agree my recipe is a perfect blend of the best flavors!

If this is your first time making green chile, be prepared to fall in love. Our green chile (sometimes called chile verde) is so popular that 505 Southwestern and the Denver Broncos have a partnership to sell green chile at concession stands!

If you are in the mood, go all out and smother your burritos Christmas style, half green, and half red chile.

What is All The Fuss About?

Lately, I have been reading articles about green chile being the local must-try food in Colorado. I have to agree!

Starting in the fall, late August through late September, there are chile stands throughout Denver (possibly the state). It is a pastime to purchase a bundle of New Mexico chiles and watch them being roasted. While at the road stands, we always buy green and red chiles, along with poblano peppers.

Fun fact (ok maybe just fun for me) chiles are grown in Pueblo Colorado. In fact, it is such a big deal there is a Pueblo Green Chile Growers Association! The peppers from Pueblo are smaller and meatier in texture. Pueblo is in the southern part of Colorado, about 2 hours from the New Mexican border.

What is Colorado Style Green Chile?

Most people are familiar with the famous New Mexican Hatch green chile. The recipes are easily found throughout New Mexico and the American southwest. The New Mexican style is heavy on the actual green chilies and not a lot of other ingredients. However, in Colorado, we make a different type of green chile. Ours is stew-like made with fire-roasted tomatoes.

Colorado and New Mexico take their chilies very seriously. There has been a long-standing rivalry about whose chili peppers are better. Our governors even got in on the action and New Mexico placed billboards around Denver promoting their green chiles. Honestly, it's all good fun and rather funny.

What do I Put Green Chile On?

Well, pretty much everything. Too broad? Honestly in my home, we make this green chile recipe in large batches and can it. It is in such demand that we ship it to friends and family throughout the country.

My personal preference is to enjoy it as a main course. Most of my family likes to smother eggs, breakfast burritos, traditional burritos, enchiladas, nachos, and even burgers in it. We also use it as a type of salsa with tortilla chips.

When I say the main course, I mean a stew served with warm tortillas and lime wedges. Because the chili can be spicy, depending on the pepper heat level, I load the bowl up with cheese and sour cream to cool it off. Then I shamelessly, eat it with Frito Scoops. It's not exactly low fat, but it's soooo worth it!

Ingredients

Buying Green Chiles

Most green chiles sold in stores are from the Hatch Valley of New Mexico. New Mexicans are very proud of their green chiles and with good reason. New Mexico chilies are the perfect blend of sweet and spice.

If you are in the Denver metro area, green chiles are roasted on the side of roads in different locations throughout the city. My two favorite places to shop are Lulu's roadside market in Brighton and roasted chile on Sante Fe. Lulu's has a large variety of different types of chiles including Pueblo chiles. If you are looking for additional stands, I recommend this site.

• Canned - This is the most common form of green chiles. Purchase the fire-roasted chiles, the fire roasting makes a big difference.

• Frozen - These can be found in a rectangle package in some grocery stores. In my grocery, they are between the frozen fruit and seafood sections. I know, it does not make sense. But if you can find them it is worth it. These chiles are close to fresh, roasted, peeled, and easy to cook with.
• Fresh - You might be able to find fresh chiles in your store around late September. If you find these, roast them on your grill to blister the skin. Once the skin is blistered, peel it off. Then slice the chile in half and remove the seeds and veins before dicing.
• Road Side Stands - In parts of the southwest in the fall you can find chiles being roasted in roadside stands. These chiles are amazing! If you are able to purchase fresh fire-roasted chiles it is worth the extra work. You will also have to remove the seeds and veins from these chiles.

Additions and Substitutions

I wrote this as a vegetarian recipe. However, it can easily be made vegan, gluten-free, or with pork. All are popular variations.

• Vegan - To make vegan green chile cook the onions in olive oil or vegan butter. Also, use vegan butter when toasting the flour (roux).
• Gluten-Free - If you omit the flour the chile will not be as thick. It will still taste great. Another option is to mix 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water. Once mixed and smooth, add to the green chile at the very end of the simmering time.
• Pork - Use 3 - 4 pounds of pork shoulder. Roast in the oven at 350f for 3 hours. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the pork to cool, then remove all the fat and shred it into the chile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are hatch chiles?

Hatch chiles are grown in New Mexico. Hatch is the largest supplier of chiles and is often the first (and usually only) name that comes to mind with green chiles. However, green chiles can be found growing in Colorado as well. Colorado grows pueblo chiles, which tend to be "meatier" than hatch chiles.

What is the difference between red and green chile?

Red and green chiles are from the same plant. The difference is green chiles are picked early and red chiles are left to ripen on the vine. Red chiles are also often hung on large strands to dry out.

Are chiles spicy?

In the spectrum of chiles, the green ones are milder. With that said, what is considered spicy really depends on the person. If you like the flavor, but want to tone down the spice, first look for chiles labeled mild. Then, if you are cooking fresh chiles, remove the seeds and the veins. This is where most of the heat comes from.

Is it chili or chile?

The two are often confused. I have even confused them within this blog. However, the two are very different. Here is the best way to keep them straight.

• Chile with an "e" at the end is the most common spelling used in Hispanic countries. The spelling with an "e" in the united states refers to the pepper. This pepper is the main ingredient and seasoning in green chile. The plural is "chile" or "chiles."
• Chilli with an "i" refers to the beef stew. That stew is not made with chile peppers. Instead is seasoned with a variety of seasonings.

Read This Before Working With Fresh Chiles

When working with fresh, including fire-roasted, chiles the oil can stay on your hands for several hours. As a precaution, I recommend removing your contacts and, if at all possible, wearing gloves. Once the oil gets on your hands, it isn't easy to get off.