DessertGreen chileHomemade ice creamIce creamSummer

Hatch Green Chile Ice Cream

Prep 15 min
Cook 15 min
Total 30 min
Servings 6
🌶️
Heat Level 🌶🌶 Medium
📊
Difficulty Medium
Hatch Green Chile Ice Cream
Rating
4.5 (12)

Instructions

  1. 1
    Scald the milk, cream, and half of the granulated sugar with the vanilla bean pods and seeds, plus half of the roasted Hatch Green Chile peppers, stirring constantly in a saucepan
  2. 2
    Whip the egg yolks with the remaining sugar in a small bowl until smooth like a ribbon, then pour some of the scalded liquid into the egg mixture and mix well, adding that back to the saucepan and cooking over low heat until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon
  3. 3
    Strain the mixture into a bowl and add the pure vanilla extract
  4. 4
    Place the mixture in the refrigerator and chill completely for about 2 hours
  5. 5
    Place in an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions
  6. 6
    When it's about half frozen (approximately 10 minutes into the process), add in the remaining roasted Hatch Green Chile peppers, diced very fine
  7. 7
    Fold in the chopped nuts just before serving
  8. 8
    Haiku 4.5
Creamy, dreamy ice cream infused with roasted Hatch Green Chile and topped with candied nuts—a uniquely New Mexican treat that's sweet, savory, and absolutely unforgettable.

You know that moment when summer hits and you're craving something cold and sweet, but you want it to taste like home? This Hatch Green Chile Ice Cream is exactly that. It's a recipe that's been passed down through families here in New Mexico, where we know that the best flavors come from the best ingredients—and there's nothing more New Mexican than roasted Hatch Green Chile.

My grandmother used to make this every August when the chile was at its peak. She'd roast the peppers herself, peel them by hand, and fold them into this silky custard base with real vanilla beans. The result? A scoop of pure summer that balances creamy sweetness with that signature Hatch Chile kick. It's the kind of dessert that makes people stop mid-conversation and ask, "What is that?" Trust me, once you taste it, you'll understand why this recipe gets requested year after year at every family gathering around here.