Jalapeno Flakes
Using just a few fresh jalapenos and your trusty Air Fryer, you can make these perfect dehydrated jalapeno flakes in your kitchen, and store them for months! The recipe is so easy and versatile- it's an absolute must try if you've been wanting to try making your own condiments!
Jalapenos are one of my absolute favorite of all the peppers! They've got an amazing kick of spice, but are not too overpowering and intense.
So of course, I LOVE using them for lots of recipes. Every time I have a big batch of fresh jalapenos at hand, I end up making some jalapeno honey or jalapeno salt. This time however, I really wanted to try and preserve these peppers to use them for weeks, if not months. And that's when I tried this recipe.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
The simplicity of this recipe is one of my favorite parts about it. If you've always thought that dehydrating fresh veggies is daunting, you'll love this simple recipe.
It's also an excellent way to use up some fresh peppers that you have at hand, and store them for later.
Recipe Ingredients
Jalapenos: Fresh, ripe jalapenos are all you need for this recipe! If you're feeling creative, you can use a mix of two or more kinds of peppers too.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- I used jalapenos here, but you can try this exact recipe with other kinds of peppers too. I'm actually SO excited to do just that.
- If you love hot and spicy food, you can try this recipe using Serrano or Habanero peppers.
- To lend the pepper flakes a bit of a fragrant twist, add some lemon zest or lime zest into the mix towards the final few minutes of cooking.
How to Make Jalapeno Flakes in the Air Fryer
To make the perfect air fried jalapeno flakes, start by preheating your Air Fryer.
Wash and clean the jalapeno peppers.
Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel until no moisture remains.
Cut the tops off the jalapenos and slice them into halves. De-seed them as much as you can.
Arrange them in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket.
Air fry the peppers for 20-40 minutes, until they look like this.
Pulse them in a spice grinder for a few seconds until they resemble these flakes.
💭Top Tip
Make sure you allow the dried, dehydrated peppers to cool down completely before you grind them. This will give you the perfect texture, and the pepper flakes won't clump together too.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Stop at every 5-10 minute interval and flip the peppers over so that they don't burn.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands while slicing the peppers. The heat from the peppers can burn your hands.
- I love this flaky, coarse texture, but if you want to, you can also make jalapeno powder by processing the flakes further for a few extra minutes until you get a smooth ground texture.
- You can also dehydrate the peppers in an oven if you want to. Simply arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and pop them in an oven preheated at the lowest setting and cook them for 4-8 hours until they dry out completely.
- If after grinding, you spot any signs of moisture, re-dry the flakes again before you store them.
How to Use Air Fryer Jalapeno Flakes
There are a ton of ways to use up your spicy jalapeno flakes. Sprinkle them on some homemade popcorn or your bowl of Mac and cheese to spice it up.
It also tastes wonderful when added to your homemade salad dressing or vinaigrette. I've also used it into my homemade spice mixes, dry rubs and marinades several times.
Recipe FAQs
You can store your jalapeno flakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months, if not longer. Just make sure you store the jar in a cool, dark place away from sunlight.
Keep checking the jalapenos every 5 minutes once you reach the 20 minute mark. Once they look dry and charred, they're ready to get out.
It takes anywhere between 20-40 minutes for the jalapenos to dry completely. The time can depend on the kind of Air Fryer you're using, and the size of the jalapenos.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this Air Fryer jalapeno flakes or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Jalapeno Flakes
Ingredients
- 15-20 jalapenos
Instructions
- Wash and clean the jalapeno peppers.
- Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel until no moisture remains.
- Cut the tops off the jalapenos and slice them into halves. De-seed them as much as you can.
- Arrange them in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket.
- Air fry the peppers for 20-40 minutes, until they look like this.
- Pulse them in a spice grinder for a few seconds until they resemble these flakes.
Notes
- Make sure you allow the dried, dehydrated peppers to cool down completely before you grind them. This will give you the perfect texture, and the pepper flakes won't clump together too.
- Stop at every 5-10 minute interval and flip the peppers over so that they don't burn.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands while slicing the peppers. The heat from the peppers can burn your hands.
- I love this flaky, coarse texture, but if you want to, you can also make jalapeno powder by processing the flakes further for a few extra minutes until you get a smooth ground texture.
- You can also dehydrate the peppers in an oven if you want to. Simply arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and pop them in an oven preheated at the lowest setting and cook them for 4-8 hours until they dry out completely.
- If after grinding, you spot any signs of moisture, re-dry the flakes again before you store them.
