Recently, I hosted a raw food pot luck at my home. Talking to everyone, at all levels of involvement with raw food was interesting and enlightening. It is always fun to see what raw food dishes people show up with. One couple brought some jalapeno poppers, made the raw food way. They were very good. I was inspired to take a shot at it and see what I could come up with.
Instead of using green jalapeno’s, I opted for small red cayenne peppers, for the color and the ripeness. The heat is about the same. The filling is made from pine nuts, cashews and a few other ingredients. Eggplant “bacon” tops completes the bite size morsels. There are quite a few recipes out there for eggplant “bacon”. This one was inspired by a trip to the spice shop and a desire to make it quick and easy. It turned out great. I had to fight my daughter to keep enough for the photos!
Pepper Poppers with Pine Nut Filling and “Bacon”
The day before, make the bacon.
Eggplant Bacon
- 1 Eggplant
- 2 T Olive Oil
- 1/4 C Water
- 1 t. Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 t. Ground Chipotle Peppers (I get them pre-ground)
- 2 T Agave
Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin, slice the eggplant into strips about 1/8″ thick. Set aside. Mix together marinade ingredients. Place eggplant in marinade, making sure all is covered. Cover and let soak for 2-3 hours. Dehydrate at 116 for at least 12 hours, or until crisp.
The day of:
Pine Nut Filling
- 1 1/2 C Pine Nuts (presoak for 4-5 hours.)
- 1/2 C Cashews (pre-soak for 4-5 hours)
- 1 1/2 Lemons (juice from)
- 1/4 C Water
- 2 T Nutritional Yeast (not considered raw, but used frequently in raw food recipes)
- 1 T Smoked Paprika
- pinch salt
- 1/2 Red Pepper
Place all ingredients in food processor and process until smooth.
Assembly
- 10 Cayenne Peppers
- Filling
- Eggplant Bacon
Cut peppers in half and remove seeds. I use plastic gloves when doing this. Be careful to not touch your face while doing this. The heat is in the seeds. Fill pepper halves with pine nut “cheese” and top with eggplant bacon. Enjoy!!
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This looks amazing!
Those look great!
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
you are one of the most creative raw-chefs out there!
I tried stuffing de-seeded hot peppers before but the dish came out rather spicy at the end. is there a trick to it?
Peppers are hot by nature. Taking out the seeds helps a ton but they are still going to be spicy.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this. This is a keeper!
Wow! This made my heart skip a beat. I really miss poppers! I will be trying this out ASAP. Thank you so much.
ok that bacon totally faked me out!!!!!!!
looks so delish.
thanks for the continual inspiration!
deb
Those look so so so good..yum!
Enjoy!
Oh wow, those look fantastic! Always such creative recipe ideas, here!
Brilliant and creative, as always.
I’m going to have to dig out the food processor for this one! Can’t wait.
You are something else. That eggplant “bacon” is amazing! One of these days I am going to have to actually try some of your food.
You are incredibly creative. What a great way to present an appetizer! Fantastic.
This is my first time commenting here! Love your site! New to raw- incorporating more and more into my diet. This recipe sound delish- just made some eggplant bacon the other day! Will have to give this a go.
Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to listening in on your radio interview. 
Okay, I lied- maybe not the first time- but it sure felt like it! LOL!
Whoa, these look amazing. Will definitely have to try these for a party in the future.
This looks great, but just a few things. One, chipotle peppers are not raw, soooo the “bacon” is not raw so be careful who you serve these too, a 100% raw person might be pretty upset. Two, a cayenne pepper is a little misrepresented, as it usually is a pretty hot, maybe a sweet pepper would have been a better way to say it. I’m totally ready to try this though.
You are right. Chipotle peppers are smoked. The bacon calls for 1/4 teaspoon of the powdered form in the marinade. It is for flavor, not nutrition. By the time you eat the bacon, you are probably getting a couple of grains of it. But yes, if someone is 100% raw you might want to inform them. Also, the peppers are called cayenne peppers in the store that I bought them. They are hot. Not eye watering hot, but they are spicy.
I can’t believe that is n ot real BACON!!! What a great job you did!!!
The bacon looks incredible. Super excited try this on an AELT!
i made the bacon out of this because it sounded so good. and i use to like bacon when i ate meat, whew, gosh its been almost 5 years, anyways i did not have chipotle peppers so i used spicy red, still very lovely! yummy!
Do people really eat that stuff? Sounds and looks awful.
Lol…I guess you won’t be eating it.
lol..you are right Susan I guess edna wont be eating it.
I am always amazed at people and the fact that they feel a need to leave their “baggage” in other peoples “homes”.
if you don’t care for something why is it even necessary to comment? just keep it moving..
anyyyyywayyyyy…
Susan you have opened up my raw mind in so many ways that I would have never thought possible..
while winter has found me almost 80% non raw instead of my preferred 80% raw, just coming to your blog inspires and motivates me..
please keep servin’ it
That looks yummy…the cayenne peppers that we have in Jamaica are really tiny though, they’re called “bird peppers”, i suspect I would have to use jalapenos for this…for us, those are fairly mild, we’re used to habaneros on a regular basis
Yes Edna–that was quite rude–and I am sure you knew that!~ Most people love this site–so I am in agreement that if you are going to say something negative and I am SURE you know before you that do: Please dont
Can you indeed substitute with green jalapeno’s AND put them in the dehyrator (how long?) to give them the commercial microwavable “jalapeno poppers” consistency- to get them a little soft?
Yes… you can substitute. You will have to experiment with them in the dehydrator to achieve the desired softness that you are looking for.
I just made these. Oh my goodness, they are amazing!!!! I am new to a raw food diet and I love experimenting. These are fabulous to the max!!!!!
I’ve been reading about eggplant bacon for awhile. Does it really have the qualities of bacon? What about the texture?
I’m asking because I’m trying to venture out and try new recipes.
Thanks!
I honestly don’t know how to answer that. It has it’s own flavor and texture. It is not fat laden meat so it isn’t going to be the same.
Thanks! Either way I’m going to try it! It ooks great! Thanks for the recipe.
My friend is starting a raw food diet so I told her about your site. You have so much great info. I have been raw for 2 years and feel great!
Charlot
They turned out fantastic – wear the gloves!!!!
These look amazing definately going to give these a try this weekend.
I coun’t get my bacon crispy any sugessions?
You have to remember this is a veggie not a fat laddened piece of pork that is fried. That said…it will still be a little chewy. If it is too chewy, dehydrate more…
Did you peel the eggplant?
Dee: yes
Sorry about my questions. I made it again and it was great. My only problem was I ate it as soon as it as done like it was potato chips, so I went out to get more eggplants and could not find any organic in the area.But, I have another snack food I can take with me kale chips and eggplant bacon.Thanks for all your advice.
Dee: I know this is a couple months late, but I have found that when I put dehydrated goodies in the fridge (nuts, crackers, etc.), they will often get a very crispy; I’ve had great success with another version of eggplant bacon (this one looks delicious and simple—I’ll have to try it!). Also, if you don’t mind if it’s 100% raw or not, you could use maple syrup, as it dehydrates crunchy. Those poppers are beautiful—can’t wait to make them!
I have heard people say that the heat is in the seeds, actually capsicum (heat) is found in the white flesh to which the seeds are attached. If you want less heat remove both the seeds and the white flesh.
i made these today…yum! the kids weren’t into the peppers, but love the cheeze and bacon. i couldn’t find the chipotle peppers in my grocery store and could have gone for some small sweet reds, but figured i’d try jalepenos and it worked well for me…maybe the small sweet reds would work better for my kids, or other people who want less heat/spice though…just a thought.
This bacon is to die for! I make 2 batches at a time so I can use it on burgers, cauliflower mash,pizza and more!! I ring out the eggplant before I dehydrate and it comes out nice and crispy. It also makes a nice garnish for squash soup!
Could this be made with anahiem peppers for a less spicy treat?
I don’t see why not…
Please tell me where I can buy Smoked Paprika and Ground Chipotle Peppers?
Thanks Rhonda
http://www.penzeys.com/
YUM! Although I haven’t prepared jalapeno poppers in my kitchen… your pictures are inspiring! I have ordered them from a local company, and they are addictively good. I like the attention you pay to the fact that jalapeno’s are not ripe when green, so you choose the other spicy red peppers… many people are unaware of that little fact.
I think I will find some spicy red peppers and experiment with your recipe. Many thanks!
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