Winning ways with pepper jelly
We’ve rounded up some easy ideas for spicing up your culinary repertoire with pepper jelly.
With five fabulous flavoursin our lineup there’s plenty of ways to add some sweet heat to everything from main dishes to snacks, sandwiches and even salads.
Use these ideas as a jumping off point for your own creations and flavour combinations.
Meats/ Seafood:
Jellies add a gorgeous gloss and caramelization as well as an extra burst of flavour whether you’re using the grill, oven or air fryer.
You can simply use them on their own, heating gently first to loosen the jelly up a bit to achieve a good consistency for glazing.
Or enhance the flavours with a little Dijon, soy sauce and a splash of citrus juice or vinegar.
Season the meats with S&P or a complementary dry rub, then glaze during the final stages of cooking so as not to burn.
Here are a few favourite combos:
Chicken thighs, wings; Jalapeño, Garpeno or Ragarpeno jelly with a splash of lime juice. Try our Quick Ragarpeno Chicken.
Pork chops, tenderloin, ribs: Ragarpeno or Cranberry Jalapeño + orange juice.
Salmon: Blueberry Garpeno + lime
Shrimp: Garpeno + orange
Ham steak or roast: Cranberry or Ragarpeno, a splash of soy sauce, fresh orange zest and juice, grainy mustard, and a touch of Worcestershire sauce.
Tofu/ Veggie kabobs: Jalapeño + orange or rice vinegar + soy sauce
Garpeno glazed wings
Burgers:
Add a dollop of jelly atop the burger patty after the first flip and finish cooking. Or add a slice of cheese, then top with the jelly and let it melt right in.
Beef burgers: Jalapeño jelly + cheddar
Chicken / turkey burgers: Ragarpeno or Cranberry Jalapeno + Monterey Jack
Lamb burgers - Blueberry Garpeno + goat cheese or feta
Black bean burgers: Jalapeño + Monterey Jack Jalapeno
Appetizers:
Always a hit on a cheese & charcuterie board, here are a few more ways to make pepper jellies the star of your appetizer spread.
Pepper jelly poured over cream cheese (softened to room temperature) served with crackers.
Mix cream cheese and shredded cheese (white cheddar, Monterey Jack or mozzarella) with green onions and bake until warm and melty. Top with your favourite jelly and crispy bacon pieces.
Jalapeño poppers: Place halved and seeded jalapeños on baking sheet and broil until tender and slightly charred. Fill with softened cream cheese and top with a dollop of jelly. Or wrap the cheese and jelly stuffed jalapeños with bacon and roast or grill until bacon is crisp.
Brie baked in puff pastry with Cranberry Jalapeno or Ragarpeno jelly.
Goat cheese crostini with Blueberry Garpeno and pistachios
Devilled eggs topped with a dollop of Jalapeño or Garpeno and a snippet of crispy bacon if desired.
Layer jelly of choice into a crusty pull-apart loaf with brie and bake to gooey goodness.
Savoury thumbprints: Though often served at Christmas, these cheesy jelly-filled nuggets are a popular cocktail nibble any time of year.
Pepper jelly-topped jalapeno poppers
Sandwiches:
Give your sandwich game a glow up with these zesty suggestions:
Breakfast sandwich with Jalapeño jelly, Canadian bacon, fried egg and melted cheese on an English muffin.
Mix pepper jelly with mayonnaise for a fabulous sandwich spread. Try Cranberry or Ragarpeno with turkey/ham/chicken; Jalapeño or Garpeno with roast beef.
Ultimate grilled cheese with Jalapeño or Garpeno jelly and pickled jalapeño slices and/or crispy bacon.
Grilled chicken sandwich with melty brie, Blueberry Garpeno jelly and arugula.
Meatball subs: Bake your favourite meatballs then glaze with pepper jelly of choice and broil until beautifully burnished, Serve in hoagie rolls with thin slices of cucumber and shredded carrots.
Salads & sauces:
Vinaigrette:
Whisk together 1 tbsp pepper jelly, 1 tbsp vinegar of choice or lemon/lime/orange juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, salt & pepper
Mix up the flavour profile to suit your salad:
Jalapeño/Garpeno/ lime with cabbage & carrot slaw
Blueberry Garpeno / balsamic vinegar, with spinach, feta, almonds or pecans
Ragarpeno/ red wine vinegar with arugula or spinach, feta, beets, walnuts or pumpkin seeds
Stir fry or dipping sauce
Whisk together garpeno jelly, soy sauce, rice vinegar and ginger to taste. Stir into a stir fry or use as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders, spring rolls, salad rolls etc.
Quick Ragarpeno Chicken