A couple of months ago, I had a Breakfast Pizza with Chorizo and Candied Jalapeños at The Farmer & The Seahorse here in San Diego, and I’ve had it on my must-make list ever since!

So when I saw a recipe for candied jalapeños in Rebecca Lindamood’s new book, Not Your Mama’s Canning Book, I knew the time was right to recreate this tasty dish. Rebecca and I went to Tuscany last year with DaVinci Wine, and we had such a fun time. She’s so kind and knowledgable, and she even hosted an impromptu barre class to help us burn off some of the meat and cheese we’d been gorging ourselves on! Rebecca is a true pleasure to be around, so I am more than happy to help promote her new book! Let’s talk pizza first.

Pillowy pizza dough is stretched into a thin round then topped with shredded mozzarella, cooked Mexican chorizo and grated Parmesan. As the pizza cooks in the oven, the fat from the chorizo melts into the mozz, infusing the cheese with color and spice. Once out of the oven, the pizza is finished with sunny side up eggs and homemade candied jalapeño slices. Each bite packs some big bold flavor from the chorizo with pops of sweet heat from the jalapeños. The crunchy, golden crust is perfect for mopping up all the runny egg yolk. This pizza can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or dinner! Continue reading for the recipe.

The candied jalapeños in this recipe are slightly adapted from those found in Not Your Mama’s Canning Book. You start by slicing up a lot of jalapeños. The chiles are then briefly cooked in a sweet-sour mix of sugar, apple cider vinegar, cumin, celery seed, garlic and cayenne pepper. You can enjoy the jalapeños immediately, but Rebecca recommends that you let them sit for up to a month in the fridge before eating. I waited one week 🙂 These candied jalapeños are SUCH a tasty treat. They’re sweet and grassy at first, but then a mild heat comes through as you keep chewing. They’re a perfect counter to the rich and spicy chorizo on top of this pizza. I’ve also been eating them with cheese!

Not Your Mama’s Canning Book is filled with unique preserving recipes along with fun ways to put them to use (The Big Payoff!). Homemade Cranberry Ketchup (p. 64) and Whole Grain Dijon Mustard (p.74) top a Mile-High Hot Ham and Swiss Sandwich (p.135). Peach Habanero Rum Preserves (p. 42) flavor a sauce for Pan Roasted Chicken (p. 152). Ginger Pickled Carrots (p. 53) add a note of sharpness to California Roll Sushi Bowls (p. 159). A Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie (p. 205) made simple with homemade Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie in a Jar (p. 78)! I can’t wait to try more of these recipes throughout the year to help preserve the seasons!

Candied Jalapeños

Adapted from Rebecca Lindamood's Not Your Mama's Canning Book.

Servings 20 ounces

Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

1 cup apple cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 pounds jalapeños, stems removed, thinly sliced*

Instructions

Add vinegar, sugar, cumin seeds, celery seeds, garlic and cayenne to a large pot, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the jalapeño slices, return to a simmer and cook for 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the slices to a clean jar (I used a 28.7 oz weck jar).
Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the remaining syrup to a rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes. Using a ladle, carefully pour the boiling syrup over the jalapeño slices. The syrup should fully cover the slices (you'll have a little leftover). Insert a clean chopstick or skewer to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped air pockets. Cover the jar, and let cool completely before storing in the refrigerator. The candied jalapeños can be enjoyed immediately, but they're better if you let them mellow for 1 week to 1 month before eating.

Recipe Notes

*Use gloves here if you are sensitive to chiles. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards as well.