Expert: Tina Addair - 11/8/2002

Question
Hello I am thinking of preserving  fresh crushed green chillies and garlic in olive oil . I would be so grateful if you could tell me how long approximately will be the shelf life and will the garlic chage its colour. Basicly I want your advice on how to preserve crushed fresh green chillies and crushed garlic in olive oil. Thank you.

Amita

Answer
Hello Amita!  Well, I'm not much of a canning person (no time), but here's a recipe for you to go by.  As long as you get a good seal on the jar, canned goods will keep until you start seeing rust on the lid.  Like I said, I'm no canning expert, but I would guess that adding the optional lemon juice will keep the garlic from turning color.  Good luck!

Tina K. Addair


Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2       c            Hot peppers, any kind
                        Olive oil, extra virgin
   1                    Garlic clove, chopped (opt)
   6                    Drops lemon juice (opt)

  Hot tomales!!! Turn them into hot pimentos. Split and
  remove seeds and veins and stems, Saute'  with garlic
  in extra virgin olive oil until tenter but not brown,
  pack still hot peppers tightly into jar leaving 1/2
  inch headroom. Meanwhile heat 1 cup E V olive oil in
  sauce pan to 300 degrees, using a pointed knife pierce
  a hole down the center of the peppers to the bottom of
  the jar, pour the hot oil into this hole a little at a
  time to avoid boil over, fill the jar to 1/4 inch from
  the top slowly. Wipe the jar top and sides with a
  paper towel and apply the cap tightly.
  No further processing is needed. The jarred product is
  shelf stable (check for the requisite depressed lid).
  Be sure to sterilize the lid at the very least, the
  hot oil will sterilize the jar and peppers.