Recipes to make with dried hot peppers

Two recipes to make with dried hot peppers are hot pepper fritters and Harissa is a spicy all-purpose hot paste recipe made from dried hot peppers.

Golden brown hot pepper fritters are a favorite recipe of street food vendors in Western Africa who make their homemade fritters with cassava flour, ground dry hot peppers and green onions fried into delicious homemade hot pepper fritters.

Sun-drying hot peppers directions. 

For effective drying, the air should be hot, dry and moving. Hot peppers are dried when the water contained within them is removed into the surrounding air. It first moves to the surface of the food and then evaporates as water vapor.

The drying rack should be placed in a position that can take advantage of any wind. In conditions of high sunshine and low humidity, sun drying can be finished in one day. If the hot peppers need to be dried overnight protect them from early morning dew.

The simple traditional sun-drying process, good quality, whole, uncut hot peppers are spread in thin layers on a screen (for movement of air around produce), left in direct sunlight where the humidity is low for 2-3 days, and turned occasionally.

The sun-dried process can take up to three weeks when weather conditions are unfavorable. Make sure the hot peppers are covered or moved to a shelter when rainfalls. Remember that matt black surfaces absorb solar radiation more efficiently than others so when placing your hot peppers on a surface for sun-drying the blacker the pepper.

Make sure your hot peppers are free from exposer to dust, insects, rodents, birds and other animals. Dried hot peppers are stored in pots, baskets or containers. 

Two recipes to make with dried hot peppers.

Make crispy pepper fritters made with cassava flour, ground dry hot peppers and green onions with the African Gourmet. Use West African dried hot pepper fritters as a snack, appetizer or as a side dish with fish.

Serves 8 

Dried Hot Pepper Fritters Recipe 

Ingredients
2 medium eggs, beaten
2 cups ground cassava flour
3 chopped green onions
Ground dry hot peppers to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying in a deep fat fryer

Directions
Add all ingredients adding more flour if necessary to make a thick batter. Drop by spoonful’s into hot oil until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, sprinkle with additional salt and serve warm.

Hot peppers grown in a garden in Ghana

Harissa is a spicy all-purpose hot paste recipe made from dried hot peppers. 

A flavorful hot chili pepper paste made from dried hot peppers, garlic, olive oil, and toasted spices. Hot pepper paste is the basic seasoning in North African cooking and is extremely hot. Hot pepper paste or Harissa is typically made hot and served with vegetables, meat and couscous Harissa can be made five days ahead just simply keep covered in the fridge. 

Hot Dried Pepper Paste Seasoning Recipe 

Ingredients
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
4 hot peppers of your choice, diced
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 tablespoons cumin seeds, toasted
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
A small handful of coriander leaves chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions
Lightly toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a small frying pan over medium heat, stirring often, until fragrant around 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Add the cooled seeds with the remaining ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.