Jalapeno Popper Near You

What Is a Jalapeno Popper?

Before you jump to the main course, grabbing a tasty appetizer is a great way to start things off.

Or perhaps you're at home, about to watch a game or a cool movie and you'd definitely like some snacks.

Well, today we present you the perfect small dish for all such occasions - jalapeno poppers!

Also known as jalapeno bites, this starter is made of the following ingredients:

• Jalapeño peppers
• Cheese
• Spices
• Bread crumbs
• (Minced meat)

The preparation process includes emptying out the jalapeno peppers and filling them with cheese and spices, and even minced meat. Then, they get coated with bread crumbs and are deep fried. This makes them creamy, cheesy, and crunchy.

It's a simple formula but we can't deny that the result is mouthwatering. Plus, you can easily combine them with other appetizers such as wings and nachos. They're also versatile and can be done a bit differently, but more on that later.

What Is the History of the Jalapeno Popper?

The origin of this fantastic snack isn't exactly clear. But based on its ingredients and similarities to another dish we can safely make some assumptions.

First, let's take a look at its main ingredient - the jalapeno pepper. This chili pepper originates from Mexico. The term jalapeno means "from Xalapa" in Spanish. It refers to the capital of Veracruz.

In Mexican cuisine, there's a popular dish called Chile relleno. The name means stuffed chile, and it was invented in Puebla. Even though it is usually made with poblano pepper, jalapeno peppers are a common alternative.

The Chile relleno is stuffed with melted cheese and fried which makes it rather similar to the jalapeno popper. In fact, it probably served as an inspiration for it. And many would consider the jalapeno popper as simply a variation of the Chile relleno.

Still, we cannot pinpoint when exactly the jalapeno popper was invented. But circa 1972, there was a dish in Texas known as armadillo eggs. This is considered an alternative version of jalapeno poppers. The difference is that they are covered with bacon or sausage meat.

A more official milestone in the history of this appetizer comes with the application for the trademark of "jalapeno poppers" in 1992. This was done by Anchor Food Products.

However, there had been another trademark for the term poppers. That goes back to 1983 and it belonged to Poppers Supply Company who were selling popcorn.

Thus, it wasn't until 2001 that the trademark was transferred to Anchor Food Products.

We should also mention that a fun record was set in April of 2006. That's when Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 118 jalapeno poppers in only 10 minutes. This took place at the University of Arizona (on a side note, the author of this content is a fan of the Wildcats!).

Previously, we talked about the armadillo eggs alternative. But there's also another one called Atomic Buffalo Turds. This version is when the poppers are stuffed with sausage and cooked on a grill. Plus, there's the very popular jalapeno popper dip.

How Many Calories Are in a Jalapeno Popper?

In a serving of 114 grams, there are about 252 calories. This includes 24g of total fat or 31% of the daily value based on a 2000-calorie diet.

What's more, there are 78mg of cholesterol (26%), 258mg of sodium (11%), 5.6g of total carbohydrates (2%), 4.5g of protein, and 200 mg of potassium (4%).

Where Can I Find Jalapeno Poppers Near Me?

For those of you in NYC, a great place to get 'em is Claudio Pizzeria on 10th Ave. They're open 7 days a week and also offer takeout and delivery via Slice.

Or you can also check out Peppino's Pizza in Baldwin Place. They're a very popular place, serving fantastic poppers and also other food, and work every day of the week. Of course, you can also order them for pickup or delivery through Slice.

As for other cities, just check the listing on this page.