Spicy, creamy, a little smoky, and a bunch of fun — Hatch Chile Party Bites are the perfect party appetizer.

Hatch Chiles are everywhere in the grocery stores this month. Many locations will even roast them for you. I couldn’t help making these tasty green guys into cheesy party bites – which sparked a story from my past. I’ll share it with you as I show you how the recipe comes together.

Hatch Chile & Cheese Party Bites & A Cheesy Miracle

My first job after college graduation started with an internship at a TV station where employees used computers. I know I am dating myself, but that was a very big deal then, when college didn’t include computer classes and, in fact, nobody personally owned one.

Mild Hatch Chiles on the grill.

Shortly after I started the internship I walked past a woman working on a computer, and I stopped in my tracks because I was so fascinated. I had to know how to run it and asked her all kinds of questions. She was very gracious and welcomed my keen interest. Little did I know that she also spoke to her boss about my enthusiasm and the next thing I knew, I was hired to work on this Chyron computer doing graphics for the local news.

Cook until the Hatch Chiles are charred.

It was a dream job for me, however, there was one caveat. One of my producers I worked under hated me from day one. In less than two weeks, she took the wind out of my sails and the joy out of my job.

The charred skin comes right off.

I remember calling my parents and crying. I lamented that I couldn’t do my job, and I wanted to quit. My father told me I could do anything that I put my mind to and to “hang in there”. With my parents’ encouragement, I continued.

Chop two of the Hatch Chiles – set other 4 aside.

Six months later it was Christmas, and I was busy making presents for my fellow employees – because that is what good girls from the Midwest do. When it came to the “mean” producer the best I could do for her was to buy a two dollar cheese ball from Hickory Farms. I couldn’t bear to give it to her in person so I left it on her desk and prayed that she wouldn’t throw it at me the next day.

Mash the feta with a fork.

Much to my surprise, the next day she approached me in tears. She said she had been working at the same company for years and no one had ever given her a Christmas present! I was flabbergasted. She apologized for her poor behavior and vowed to change.

Mix all the ingredients together.

And change she did. We later became friends and we both learned a valuable lesson that Christmas.

Form into small balls.

Who knew the power of a simple cheese ball?

Chop pine nuts.

It made me think of a Proverb that reads: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, And the Lord will reward you.”

Add Hatch Chile Powder to nuts.

My colleague was clearly hungry (not for a cheese ball), but for a friend. She was also thirsty for others to acknowledge her. I think the good Lord gave her a headache of conviction, and the reward turned out to be for both of us. Work became a pleasure and we were rewarded with a new friendship and good working relationship.

Cut remaining Hatch Chiles into thin strips.

So who knows, maybe you need to make these cheese balls for someone.

Thread the strips on a toothpick.

You might need to make them for yourself.

No matter the whys and the who-fors, these tasty appetizers will bring joy to anyone who indulges in them.

Today’s Recipe: Hatch Chile Party Bites

This recipe is a spicy, upscale version of that long-ago, magic cheese ball.

Sprinkle Hatch Chile powder on each ball.

It is loosely based on a recipe from Hatch Chile Cookbook from Melissa’s Produce.

Great cookbook for other Hatch Chile recipes.

I used mild hatch chiles in my recipe, but feel free to use hot chiles if you like.

Print

Hatch Chile & Cheese Party Bites

Spicy, creamy, a little smoky, and a bunch of fun — Hatch Chile Party Bites are perfect as a party appetizer.

Course Appetizer

Author Cathy Arkle

Ingredients

• 6 large hatch chiles roasted, peeled, stemmed (2 chopped, 4 sliced)
• 1 cup 8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 shallot diced
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Melisa's Hatch Chile Powder plus additional for garnish
• 1 cup 8 oz. pine nuts, lightly toasted and finely chopped

Instructions

1. In medium bowl, mash the feta cheese with the cream cheese using a fork. Stir in the hatch chiles, garlic, shallots, salt & hatch chile powder using a wooden spoon, and mix until thoroughly.
2. Cover; refrigerate 60 minutes or until the mixture is firm enough to shape into balls.
3. Lightly moisten your hands, and shape the cheese mixture into 1-inch balls. Set them on a baking sheet or in a pan, and freeze them until they are firm, about 15 minutes. (If you’re not going to serve these immediately, cover and refrigerate up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 month.)
4. While the balls are firming up, cut the remaining hatch chiles into thin strips. Thread the strips on a toothpick and set aside. (see photo above)
5. To serve, place the chopped pine nuts in a small bowl. Roll each ball in the nuts until it is covered. Stick a threaded chile into each ball and place on an attractive serving plate or platter. Serve with baguette slices or crackers.

Recipe Notes

Makes approx. 20 mini cheese balls for about 6 people

Melissa’s Produce has three different Hatch Chile Powders to spice up your life with. Look for them in your grocery store or online.

Mild, hot, red or green Hatch Chile Powders are available.

Suffice it to say, that first savory ball of cheese and nuts I bought turned a bad situation into good. So, every time I see a cheese ball in any form, I think “healing yumminess”.

Kindness never gets stale, even if it comes in the form of a cheese ball.
…and then, she paused for thought.

Disclaimer: I was given fresh Hatch Chiles and Hatch Chile Powder to experiment with. All opinions are my own.