The Green Chile

Its that time of year that all of us are familiar with.  Green chile like many is my favorite time of year.  The smell of the roasting green chile is almost intoxicating.  I  love to drive by the store just to smell the chile roasters.  As a child growing up I remember coming home from school and my favorite snack would be a fresh homemade tortilla with fresh green chile.  In fact today I have set aside to do my green chile roasting which means my house will be filled with that yummy smell.  I know there is nothing like fresh green chile warm off the roaster but packaging and freezing green chile can last up to two years.  Many of us myself included didn't realize the health benefits that this chile pod has.  Green chile is filled with nutrients and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A, B, C, niacin, folate, and amino acid.  The vitamin C content of chile has so much vitamin C it has almost a whopping six times the amount of an orange.  Wow that means it is a huge immune booster.  The hotter the chile the more benefits such as speeding up the metabolism, helping with sore throats, and working as a sleep aid.  Green chile is low in fat and calories and high in fiber which aids in proper digestion.  Today I will be making my homemade chile sauce.  A healthy kick eat it combined with pinto beans and low fat cheese on a whole grain flat bread!

The Green Chile Farm
Photo Courtesy of: R. Rivera-Anaya