Green Chile Soft Pretzels For St Patrick’s Day

This post is a tribute to St Patrick, the saint I’ve never met.
Believe me, I always thought I would end up in Ireland, something to do with melodic Irish lilts – music to the ears of a young and naive undergrad. In my final year at University in Liverpool, I spent 3 months in Donegal, a region on the west coast doing geological fieldwork as part of my thesis. Sadly, I didn’t linger, thinking perhaps I would have another opportunity. After graduation, I spent the first 3 months waiting for a job offer from a research group based in Dublin. That didn’t work out and so I returned home to Nigeria and lived happily ever after. Still with a measure of hope that someday things would change and I would take up residence in the land of my dreams.

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And so, when Aoife of The Daily Spud (as Irish as they come……) sent up a call in arms to celebrate St Paddy’s day, rather than dye my hair an awful shade of green, I thought at first I would do nothing. But that was till I went to Houston. On a sunny Monday afternoon, my friend and I are walking the length of Memorial mall and I look on in a mixture of shock and awe. Shock because the exterior of the malls are simple, plain facades – unadorned with nothing more that the store names at the top and awe because inside the mall, I wonder if I’m on the highway. The ‘walkway’ lined on either side by stores and shops is wide, as wide as a ‘London street’ my friend says, laughing. I nod in agreement.

IMG_4276While we wonder and wander, my friend stops me and points to an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel stall, gushing about the delightfully soft, delicious pretzels. Concur? I’m sure you do.

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Of course, I had to try some, especially since I’ve never thought of pretzels as savoury. My choice is easy and when I bite into my green Jalapeno pretzels, I’m in heaven – soft, sweet, salty, spicy. I am stunned at how good they taste. Later on, I try a plain one but it is no match for the chile bake.

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And with a nod to myself I think and say ‘perfect for St Patrick’s Day’.

IMG_4132A point further buttressed by my purchase of green and transparent sugar sprinkles from TJ Maxx. I arrive home on Saturday and sleep the afternoon away while the husband and the kids go out for ice cream. I then stay up late and in those very dark hours when I’m alone and in the cooking heaven, I make up my pretzel dough which goes into the fridge for a slow rise. Effortless. When Sunday comes round, it is a simple matter to cut, roll and shape the pretzels. I find it quite tricky to get the perfect forms I’ve seen sold but I am more interested in how they will taste. In the interim, all the kids hound me for the pretzels – ‘When will they be ready?’, ‘Aren’t they ready yet?’ I say to myself, smiling…. ‘Can’t they see I’m taking photos?’

Finally the first batch of sweet pretzels are out of the oven and I loving bathe the tops with cinnamon powder and just-melted butter and finish off with very festive sprinkles. Daughter #1, relieved to finally have food on her plate eats one and a half of these gigantic pretzels. Daughter #2 takes the tiniest of bites and pushes her plate forward, distancing herself from it instead demanding a tortilla wrap with fried eggs and salsa.

IMG_4255The shock to me was the only son’s reaction – he gets the largest, thickest pretzel and he sits down and in a manner so focused (and unusual for an almost 4- year old boy – moms with boys, do you feel me?), proceeds to work his way through his ‘meal’. He eats all but a bit….and if I ever doubt the success of the pretzels, this turns me around. While I enjoy the soft, slight sweetness, it isn’t particularly tasty – not sugary or salty enough, but then I have not applied a salt topping. Anyhow, I progress onto batch 2 – the chile flavoured version. Everything goes well with these – they are sprinkled with some kosher salt before they get any blast of heat in the oven. They are baking very well when the phone rings. It is my mum and I’m catching up with her after a week away why my pretzels move from tan to golden to a burnt copper/bronze. Thankfully, I remember in good time and get them out of the oven before the transition to burnt black is made.

IMG_4298As soon as they are cool enough, I take a bite and memories of my afternoon in the mall come rushing back. These pretzels, save for the colour are PERFECT in every sense of the word. They are soft and springy, perfectly salted with a spicy kick from the chile peppers. I’m almost amazed by the sweet warm heat and rounded flavor of green chiles. I love them, whether used in Thai green curry pastes, coriander chutney or pretzels.

IMG_4297These I eat almost all alone (over two days). My husband likes them but has never really been a pretzel fan. Without further ado, let’s raise our glass with/to Paddy and immerse ourselves in a delightful recipe, even if the shaping is not perfect, I now know what to do, so much so that I think I can handle bagels next!

Tips

Dough can be made and left to prove in the fridge overnight

The cooked pretzels keep well for up to two days and can be frozen too

Chili/Jalapeno Pretzels

Recipe tweaked from a copycat of Auntie Anne’s on CD kitchen and additional tips from Auntie Anne herself 🙂
Ingredients
Basic dough
1 1/2 cups warm water
4 tablespoons (unsalted) butter
15g fresh yeast (or 1 1/8 teaspoons of active dry yeast)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/8 teaspoon salt
Pinch of Piment d’espelette or Cayenne pepper
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour
Additions for chile dough
1 green Jalapeno/3 small green chiles
1 teaspoon caster sugar
½ teaspoon  kosher salt
For cooking pretzels, prior to baking
2 tablespoons baking soda
Water
Coarse salt, to taste
To finish pretzels, when baked
4 tablespoons butter (melted)

Directions

Preparing the dough

Put ½ a cup of boiling water in a large mixing bowl and add the butter and stir till it emulsifies. Then top up with a cup of lukewarm water.

{If using active dry yeast, sprinkle yeast on 1 ½ cups of lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve and then add the butter.}

Crumble the fresh yeast in the water-butter mixture and stir to dissolve. Add the sugar, salt, cayenne pepper and stir to dissolve; add flour and using a wooden spoon or hand-held dough mixer bring mixture together till combined. The dough is ready when it is evenly combined without any dry patches.

At this stage you can knead dough until smooth and elastic and then let rise at least 1/2 hour or you can do what I did – cover the dough with a lid (or loosely with cling film/plastic wrap) and leave the dough on the counter to rise for a couple of hours. Then lightly oil the top of the dough and the bottom of a lid and pop this in the fridge overnight.

Making the pretzels

Prepare a clean surface and lightly dust with flour.  Turn the dough out and gently knead, then gather into a smooth ball. I split my dough into two batches – one half destined for sugar heaven and the other, chile paradise.

IMG_4175Then, for the sweet ones, I proceeded to shape, bathe and bake the pretzels. For the chile ones, I first made a chili paste of the green chiles, sugar and salt in my mortar and pestle.

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Then I kneaded the chile paste into the dough and proceeded to shape and bathe, as for the sweet ones.

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To shape the pretzels

For each portion of dough, ball it and cut into 4 equal pieces.

IMG_4176Then on a very lightly floured work surface, roll each piece into an 18-inch/56 cm long rope  by pulling out the dough strip to stretch it out. Start in the middle and move your hands outward while pulling, stretching, and rolling the dough strip, being careful to do this gently and not to over-work the dough. IMG_4180Shape dough strip into a “U” on the counter.

IMG_4182Cross the ends (A & B)

IMG_4183…then cross them again.

IMG_4184Pull the end down to the bottom of the ‘U’ and then pinch to seal, about 2 inches apart.

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You should have your pretzel shape….even if that was the most difficult part for me!

IMG_4188Feel free to experiment with other shapes, letters, or numbers; use your creativity!

IMG_4194And enjoy the taste of growth….stepping outside the bread-making comfort zone.

IMG_4191Transfer pretzels to an oiled baking sheet and let rest 20 minutes. After 20 minutes of resting, my sweet pretzels had visibly risen but the chile ones had not, all that was to change in the hot soda bath however.

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To bathe pretzels

Preheat the oven to 220 degrees C or 450 degrees F. When you’re ready to make the pretzels, bring 2 cups of water to the boil in a large pot. Add the baking soda and then stir.

IMG_4222You will need to do the next steps in batches – pick up a pretzel by the pinched ends or use a large slotted spoon and dip into the baking soda solution. In batches, boil pretzels until puffed and slightly shiny, about 1 minute.

IMG_4226Transfer to a wire rack with a slotted spoon, to drain. Repeat for all the others.

IMG_4236Then line the baking sheets with parchment or greaseproof paper, which prevents soggy bottoms and makes it much easier to get the pretzels off when ready (unlike just greasing the pans). Place pretzels on baking sheet and sprinkle some salt (note I didn’t do this for the sweet pretzels but will do so in future).

IMG_4283Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through cooking.

IMG_4243Once out of the oven, brush on some cinnamon spiced melted butter (or any other flavoured butters for that matter) and top with sugar sprinkles like I did, or tuck in straight….Serve warm or at room temperature.

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To store

Keep at room temperature for up to 2 days, in a ziploc or in a covered bowl.

Auntie Anne recommends the following steps to recreating their famous cinnamon sugar variety: try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another shallow bowl make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously. Then dip again into the cinnamon mixture. Enjoy!

IMG_4293Happy St Paddy’s day and more next week on Bucket List item #4: Go to America. Have a blessed weekend.

IMG_4103[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Green Chile Soft Pretzels For St Patrick’s Day – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

28 Comments

  1. As the mother of boys I totally know what you mean 😉 This is a great flavor combination, if I ever get up the courage to make a batch I will be sure to try. Thanks!

  2. I have a recipe for these that can be made effectively in an hour. Unreal, I know – but I had to find one so that my students could experience the magic of a homemade pretzel. It is one of their favourite labs. You have provided an incredible tutorial. Love the “stuffing” and the story. I know I am behind – but the going to America bit … when did that happen?
    🙂
    Valerie

  3. Thanks for your comments – I’ve never thought of pretzels with mustard – now I will have to make some pretzel sticks to dip…..

    Joan, please….leave Auntie Anne in business :-), I’m not sure I could take the pressure of millions of human beings on my case!

    Rhonda, :-). Thanks for ‘feeling’ me

    Sally, strange….now I think of it, I’ve never really thought of pretzels as sweet, sweet, sweet….well I have kind of. Now I’m officially confused. So I’ve always thought of them as sweet, with a pinch of salt – in the same basket as salted caramels!

  4. Great work with the pretzels. This is one of those things that’s on the list of projects to try. Though it’s not necessarily hard, there seems to be a lot of steps. 🙂 The final result is worth it though. A hot, soft pretzel with mustard is a great treat.

  5. I never thought or knew pretzels required so many steps to make; the only ones I ever made were cookies shaped like pretzels. I love the idea of jalapeño ones, now you got me all excited at the thought of making some and stuffing them with all kinds of goodies.

  6. I’m interested that you’ve never thought of pretzels as savoury…until I read your post I had never thought of them as sweet! When I made pretzels the amount of baking soda specified was rather scary so it’s good to see yours came out so well. Chile pretzels – an inspired take on a traditional favourite. Think how well these would go with frankfurters, mustard and saurkraut. Oh yum!

  7. Sounds like you had a great time away. I love soft pretzels but have never bothered to make my own before. A green chilli version sounds fantastic. Your daughters sound like my two, the eldest will eat almost anything I make while the younger one is more..uh…tentative 🙂 Have a great weekend.

  8. Hi beautiful lady. Once again, I loved reading your words. I used to visit that Memorial Mall as a little girl, and I remember drooling over Aunite Anne’s! I don’t like hard pretzels, but I love soft ones. Especially soft ones with mustard. Yum! Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m drooling once again! I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

  9. When I travel to see my grandchildren…I use the bus route because at the terminal they have an Auntie Anne and I am like a child waiting to savor every tiny bite. I like mine with mustard and when the husband tells me he will pick me up..I say it’s ok because I know on my return I will have another. You did a wonderful job and I like the last batch…nice and toastie.

  10. I have always wanted to try making pretzels, but none of my family enjoys them as I do, so I usually buy them at the mall (which I hate, mall in general) but at least I can have a quick fix, thanks for sharing ..

    sweetlife

  11. I’m not really a chile girl, myself – being basically a coward.
    When my kids were small I used to make green bread or green milk for St. Pat’s day, but they are “sophisticated” teens now and above all that.
    I think these pretzels would really appeal to them – and go well with the green beer on St. Pat’s day.

  12. First of all as a Mother of sons, I get it. Second, I am enjoying your experiences from the states. Auntie Anne’s is a delightful mall stop. Thirdly, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, your pretzels look tasty, now a cheese dip to go along…

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