Hatch Chile Cheese Bread is light and fluffy, airy with a nice crispy crust thanks to the addition of amber ale. The smoked cheddar is just the right compliment to the spicy Hatch chiles. It slices thin when cool and makes awesome sandwiches.
Ha! When you put the wrong title on the image.... way to go, Marye.
Once September hits you see pumpkin spice everything all over the Internet but not me... this time of year means one thing to me -- Hatch chiles!
Oh, don't get me wrong, I really love pumpkin, I do. I just prefer it in October or November after the Hatch chiles have gone out of their yummy, if brief, season. I am not the only one that thinks they're kinda special. Hatch chiles have a depth and complexity of flavor that you just don't find in other chiles. I love all kinds of peppers from Ghost peppers to Poblanos but Hatch chiles? Well, they are kinda like...
I don't know what they're like. Just trust me. They are awesomeness.
Hatch chiles always make me want to curl up on the window seat with a quilt (and really, how crazy is that? It's 90F today) and read travel articles about Santa Fe. Someday Santa Fe, someday.... It just seems like a romantic spot to me. I imagine staying in a B&B, exploring cool, artsy shops as it gently begins to snow. Heading back to the B&B to cuddle in front of a roaring fire... Somehow they embody the flavor of that fantasy.
Y'all do understand that I am a writer, right? And everything that I don't experience in my life I imagine I'm experiencing... I identified with Anne Shirley (Green Gables) way too much as a kid....
No real secret to making this. Use a flavorful beer or ale or you might as well just use water. Go for something dark but not necessarily expensive. I like a smoky cheddar in this but feel free to use any kind of cheddar you like. I use gluten flour a lot in my bread recipes and I have had people ask me if you can leave it out. Yes you can but you have to understand that it REALLY changes the texture. This bread has a lot of heavy ingredients in it to hold up. If you don't use gluten it will not be light and fluffy, it will be dense and not rise as well. As long as you understand that you're good.
I've also added potato flakes to help make the bread crumb tender and light. When I work out a bread recipe it's based on how I know the ingredients are going to work together. You are welcome to change, omit, and substitute however you like -- but I can't guarantee the results.
This makes amazing toast and perfect sandwiches. Just a little spicy - not too much. The crust is crispy and fantastic but if you like a soft crust remember to cover the Hatch Chile Cheese Bread loaves while they are cooling.
Is it just me? Is there a food that reminds you of a place that you'd love to visit?
📖 Recipe
Hatch Chile Cheese Bread
Print Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 tablespoons yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 12 ounces (about 2 ½ cups) beer, at room temperature (I used Killian's Red Ale)
- 2 or 3 teaspoons Kosher salt, (taste the cheese , if it's really salty use the lesser amount)
- 1 cup warm water
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup vital wheat gluten, (may omit )
- ½ cup potato flakes
- 4 to 5 cups bread flour
- ½ cup Hatch chiles, , diced small (may use jalapeno or poblano if desired.)
- 8 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, , diced
Instructions
- Add the yeast, sugar, and beer to the bowl of your mixer.
- Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes, it should bubble up.
- At the water, gluten flour , and potato flakes with the mixer on low.
- With the mixer running add the chiles, salt, and cheese.
- Add the bread flour, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture forms a ball.
- Knead for 4 to 5 minutes by mixer or until the dough is springy and elastic.
- Form the dough into a ball, rub with olive oil, and place in a large, oiled bowl.
- Cover with a clean tea towel.
- Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
- Punch down.
- Form into a ball, cover, and let rise until doubled again. (You may omit this step if you like but I think it helps the flavor develop)
- Punch down
- Form into two loaves.
- Bake at 350F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the bottoms sound hollow when tapped.
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Clay says
I recently moved to Santa Fe NM and like you now have a love affair with hatch chillies. However, because of the altitude I find it really hard to bake anything with yeast here. Your bread recipe looks and sounds fantastic! I usually use a “no knead artisan bread recipe” as it is the only thing that seems to work here. I’ll give your recipe a slot this weekend and hope it rises up and looks like yours. Do you have any suggestions? Keeping my fingers crossed!
Marye says
I'm not very familiar with high-altitude baking. Let me know how it goes.
Kristina says
Just mixed up this recipe and noticed you don't have when to add the salt in the instructions. I forgot about it and noticed after I got it set to rise. Hopefully it turns out okay. This recipe looks yummy otherwise though, my husband and I love hatch peppers!
Marye Audet says
I'm sorry! Fixing it now. 🙂
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
I love hatch chiles…and I'm always in awe of your gorgeous breads Marye!
Marye Audet says
Thank you!!
Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish says
Nothing like homemade bread! And the flavors here...yum!
Marye Audet says
🙂 thanks!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
this would be perfect with the chili in my crockpot!!
Marye Audet says
It totally would be!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
oh man, I would kill for that sandwich right now!! This bread looks so good Marye! I can definitely relate to the Anne of Green Gables thing 🙂
Manila Spoon says
I love the spicy kick to this delicious and very wholesome bread! Looks perfect!
heather @french press says
LOVE this, and YES september is all about hatch chiles and apples, pumpkin has to wit until October for me too