Instant Pickled Wood Fired Roasted Chilies

As a topping, Instant Pickled Wood Fired Chilies is the hot new thing here at Casa Ingles Pizzeria. Each batch has a slightly different flavor. The last round I did with Fresno chilies were sitting on top of a fresh mozzarella pizza with La Quercia prosciutto and a little of their Nduja (prosciutto spread), and finished with dressed baby arugula, and the chilies added a nice spicy sweetness, but also hinted at a lemony note in the background.

-Jalapeños or Fresno Chilies
-Kosher Salt
-Fresh Ground Black Pepper
-Olive Oil
-Rice Wine Vinegar

Slice up some chilies
* Not too thin! Not too thick!! Just right, maybe about 1/3-inch wide circles or strips.

Place in a Cast Iron Pan, seeds and all.

Sprinkle a good amount of salt and pepper over the chilies, to taste.

Drizzle with olive oil.
(* I sometimes add additional olive oil to also create a nice CHILI OIL in the process. Okay, I pretty much soak them in oil ‘cuz the finished chili oil is pretty awesome in and of itself.)

Heat it up in the fire (pizza oven), or over the fire (stove top), or in a home oven heated as hot as it will go. Cook till slightly charred.
* Check out some of my video clips on our INSTAGRAM feed @pizzaquesting of the chilies in the oven.

Pour the hot oil/chilies into a bowl to cool.

Add some Rice Wine Vinegar to taste. I haven’t measured the amount I use, but I would guess I’m tipping the bottle and adding about a 15-20% vinegar to oil ratio. Do it a little at a time and you will find your sweet (or sour) spot. If you add a little too much vinegar, never fear, the oil is near. Just add a little more oil. You can also touch it up with more salt/pepper if you think it’s needed.

To use, just drizzle on some of the chili oil and place the chilies around your pizza and, in the words of Kelly Whitaker, these will “brighten up” your pizzas (or eggs, sandwiches, pastas, and pretty much everything else you make).

Have fun and enjoy!!

This recipe comes from my posting on Pizza Quest.  Read the whole story and see more photos here!

Instant Pickled Wood Fired Roasted Chilies

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Course Side Dish, Pizza

Keyword olive oil, wood fired recipes, cookbook, jalapeno, jalapeno recipe, Pickled chilis, wood fired chilis, wood fired chilies, fresno chilies, rice wine vinegar, pizza toppings, pizza quest