A few months ago a friend in Northern Portugal kindly sent me some Jalapeno Peppers which were excess produce from her veggie garden. She also included a simple recipe on how to pickle Jalapenos plus a variety of chili seeds so I could grow my own. I thought Christmas had come early and I’d have great fun “experimenting” so with my usual enthusiasm and quest to try new things I launched myself into yet another culinary adventure. However, “Fun” proved not to be the operative word as I failed to notice that the recipe said “Wear Gloves”! If you’ve ever handled chili peppers you will probably understand, but as a “Chili Virgin” I was completely oblivious to the consequences! Let’s just say when you cut chilies and they come into contact with your bare skin the juice permeates said skin – DON’T rub your eyes, touch your lips or touch any body parts that could be considered remotely tender! Trust me if you do you will spend the next hour on the bidet! So armed with this knowledge if you are a Chili Virgin proceed with caution and do not forget to wear gloves!.
Ingredients
1lb of Jalapeno Peppers
20 fluid oz water (I used bottled water)
20 fluid oz of white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sea salt
12 black peppercorns
Sterilize jars in hot oven for a few minutes. If the lids have rubber seals I usually just sterilize these with boiling water. (I put the lids in the oven once and all the rubber seals melted – we learn by our mistakes!)
1. Wear food preparation gloves!
2. Wash the peppers and slice them into rings and put into sterilized jars.
3. Put white wine vinegar, water and sea salt into saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for a couple of minutes and pour over the peppers.
4. Put the lids on immediately and leave to cool.
The centre of the lids will “pop” in, which indicates they are airtight. You will need to repeat the above process for any jars that are not airtight otherwise the peppers will not keep.
Leave a couple of weeks before eating but a maximum of a year. Refrigerate after opening and eat within one month.
My next project is to plant the seeds and grow my own!
Please share your recipes and chili experience!
Piglet in Portugal 
I went back to the January 9 post with a recipe!
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Whoooo-Hot! Love those chilis! Pickling chili, who knew? Great pic!:)
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I’ve never even considered pickling my own jalepenos but they sure sound “spicy.” LOL. While I was aware of the rubber glove trick I appreciate the reminder because I’m petrified to do anything with the robust little peppers without being armed head to toe with a rubber suit but also intrigued because of the flavors you’re probably playing around with in some dishes. 🙂
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I’ve had your experience once or twice, but never in so sensitive a place. The pickled jalepenos sound great. I may have to try them, but chilis never seem to last long in our kitchen before theyare added to a dish!
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HI pip…It will never happen to me. I don’t eat food that hurts or looks at me!!!
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I love your photo of the jalapenos. The colors are so vibrant. It makes me want to eat the peppers raw.
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Hi Gladys and welcome 8) I think I would have to pluck up courage to eat them raw 🙂 To be honest having tried them I think I will grow a few just to pickle or freeze in the odd recipe 🙂
PiP
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Hi Tracey,
I’m just growing some standard chili peppers now in pots over the winter and are now ready for picking. They were so easy to grow; give it a try!
PiP
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I completely love jalapeños!
Aldi have jars in this week and I’m stocking up, budget allowing. Perhaps I should just do my own because I’ve found them difficult to source, in jars, here in PT (Aldi UK sells them in their regular range)
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Oi Piglet, tudo bem? Linda as suas fotos do seu blog? Queria muito conhecer Portugal, estou escrevendo para te desejar um ótimo final de semana.
Abraços Mina!
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Olá Mina – bem vindo! Desculpe eu naõ escrive Portuguese boa 😦 Eu adoro a sua blog 🙂 e as suas recipes 🙂
Bom fim da semana – a minha amiga 8)
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Oh my….I have rubbed my EYE with my finger before…that was seriously bad enough….thanks for the recipe PIP !!
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Hi RNP it’s the other place that got me LOL 🙂
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Oh dear, I’ve been where you were with the peppers. I learned, the same way as you did, to have gloves on my hands during any pepper preparation. lol We grow bell peppers and banana peppers in our garden and even though they are a bit milder than the hotter peppers, the same extreme care is always taken when handling them.
Thanks for the recipe. I bet your recipe would make pretty decorative jars too.
Wishing you a pleasant weekend!
🙂
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Hi EC…you onlly buy one chili T’shirt LOL 🙂
They do look very decorative in the jars…I’ve added a photo :=) not a particulary good one…
Cheers
PiP
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Living in South Texas we handle hot peppers regularly. I have personally never had a problem with the jalapeno, but there are other peppers I wont even let into the house. I have heard too many emergency room stories…thats one lesson I am glad I learned from someone elses mistake. Have a JOYful weekend!
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Hi Jeanne,
I’ve never had any experience with preparing chillies before…so it came of a bit of a surprise. Stll we only do it once 🙂
Cheers
PiP
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I cut up a large bag of hot peppers once without gloves. Later that night, every fingertip turned red and sizzled with the residual heat from the capsaicin.
Ouch!
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I can so relate to that! as you say Ouch! 🙂
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Hi PiP, sorry to hear you had a bad first experience but at least you learned something from it.
My mom grew her own hot peppers and did her own pickling and she never once wore gloves. I don’t know how she managed but just the smell of them could start my lips tingling. 🙂
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Hi Rose,
Sounds like hse had asbestos fingers! LOL 🙂
PiP
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