How to Make Jalapeno Poppers

Learning how to make jalapeno poppers isn’t hard. If you trim off the tops, they open wide and look like long cups, making them a perfect stuffing vessel. It appears that jalapeno poppers are relatively new on the culinary scene (1970s). Nonetheless, the little pepper appeared in stuffed form in Mexican cuisine in the 1800s.

Traditional Popper Components

The typical popper begins with cream cheese and shredded cheese inside, followed by being wrapped in bacon. The stuffing might also include shrimp, chives, finely minced garlic, smoked paprika, pulled pork, sausage, steak, olive, sweet pepper, and onion. You can use any cheese you want, but melty ones like Fontina, Gouda, Mozzarella, and Havarti are the best. For a lower-fat fare, swap out sausage or bacon in the stuffing for chicken. 

Ingredients

• 10 jalapeno peppers
• 6 ounces real lump crab meat or minced shrimp
• 8 oz chive cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon Cuso’s Gravel Seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Cuso’s Hot Honey Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup chopped white onion
• 1 Pound smoky bacon (regular cut) Cuso’s Maple Bourbon Seasoning 

Instructions

1. Preheat the smoker to 300 F
2. Grab some protective gloves before you slice the tops off the peppers
3. Clean out the seeds
4. Mix the seafood with all the seasonings thoroughly
5. Use a small spoon to fill the peppers. 
6. Wrap each with bacon 
7. Secure the strip of bacon with a toothpick
8. Dust the exterior with Cuso’s Maple Bourbon Seasoning
9. Close the smoker lid
10. Smoke until the bacon crisps up

PitMaster’s Memo

Potential dipping sauces for jalapeno poppers include

• Blue cheese dressing
• Sour cream with lime and cilantro
• Garlic aioli
• Mint cucumber sauce
• Queso
• Salsa Verde
• Chili Sauce

Sides:

Baked beans

Fried pickles

Mini Tacos

Pasta

Scallops

Desserts

Honey-grilled watermelon

Kiwi cheesecake

Pineapple sorbet

Raspberry cream cheese croissants 

White chocolate-dipped strawberries

From the Bar

Mango Margaritas

Pilsners

Root beer

Sparkling white wine

Tequila