Are Chakalaka Stuffed Jalapeños Spicy?
When you read stuffed jalapeños, you might assume that these Chakalaka Stuffed Jalapeños
are unbelievably hot. While some peppers pack a lot of heat, these are a little milder. They are perfect for someone who likes a lot of flavor but little heat.
The way to lessen the heat from these stuffed jalapeños is to hollow out the halved jalapeños
completely. You want to remove the seeds and the white ribs from the middle using a spoon.
Many folks think it is only the seeds that bring the heat, but it is also the white stuff inside that is seriously spicy. By removing both, you are making a mild stuffed jalapeño.
If you like even less spice, feel free to use the mild Chakalaka mix for this recipe. Also, for a
cooling sensation after taking a bite, serve these little treats with ranch dressing for dipping. The cooling ranch will provide relief from any lingering spice.
Dipping Sauces
If you are not a fan of ranch dressing, do not worry! There are tons of cooling sauces and dips that you can use to cool down these Chakalaka Stuffed Jalapeños.
To keep it simple, dip your jalapeños in some simple sour cream. It will mute the heat nicely
without adding any punchy flavors that compete with the Chakalaka.
If you’d like a little more flavor, try dipping into either store-bought or homemade tzatziki sauce. The cool cucumber will add a nice crunch and creaminess that compliments the jalapeños.
For a sweet dipping sauce, forget the creamy dressings and look to ketchup! Ketchup is
perfectly sweet, which can quell the heat. Plus, the flavor of ketchup really accents the stuffed jalapeños and heightens the sweetness of the Chakalaka.
No matter the dip you choose, these Chakalaka Stuffed Peppers are spectacular! You can even go the “no-dip” route if you prefer.
Air Fryer or Oven?
There are two cooking options for this recipe. You can either use your conventional oven or your air fryer.
If you have an air fryer, it is recommended that you use it. Chakalaka Stuffed Jalapeños will be ready in about half the time of a traditional oven. The bacon will also get super crispy on both sides without having the flip the jalapeños.
Using your home oven is perfectly fine as well. Cooking time will be doubled and you may have to flip your jalapeños halfway through cooking. Using either method will yield a great result, but the recipe as written recommends using the air fryer.
Chakalaka Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe
Flavorful Chakalaka is stuffed inside some fresh, seeded jalapeños before wrapping in bacon
and sticking them in the air fryer! These Chakalaka Stuffed Jalapeños are the perfect spicy
snack for any evening or party.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Recipe Yield: 12 stuffed jalapeños
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients:
6 large jalapeños, halved and de-seeded
1 package prepared medium Chakalaka, cooled slightly
12 slices of thick-cut bacon
Fresh parsley, for garnish
Ranch dressing, for dipping (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. If using the air fryer, preheat to 400 degrees F.
Halve and carefully de-seed your jalapeños. Wash your hands immediately after to prevent any burning.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of Chakalaka to the middle of the jalapeños.
Wrap each jalapeño with one slice of bacon. Secure a toothpick into each side so the bacon stays put when cooking. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Place the stuffed jalapeños on a baking sheet and bake or place them right into the air fryer. Cook for 20 minutes if using an oven, and 8-10 minutes if using an air fryer.
Once the bacon is cooked and crispy, remove the stuffed jalapeños.
Allow them to cool slightly before serving. Serve with a garnish of parsley and ranch dressing for dipping.