Today marks the beginning of a menu I’ve been looking forward to all year! Not only is this my first time making a menu for a computer game, but it’s for my all-time favorite game: STARDEW VALLEY!
For those who are unfamiliar, STARDEW VALLEY is a farming and life simulation role-playing game. There are loads of farming sims out there, but this one is special because it is just so perfectly balanced. It’s well-paced, relaxing but rewarding, easy to play in both short bursts and long hauls, and incorporates fun storytelling and lore. In fact, STARDEW VALLEY is the only computer game I’ve continued to play since having kids (sorry, Sims). On top of it all, the art style and music are beautiful in their simplicity…and the food looks AMAZING. Which is why we’re here today. 😉
Food plays a big roll in STARDEW VALLEY. Many of the recipes provide buffs to the player’s speed, energy, luck, attacks against monsters, and more. There are loads of iconic STARDEW VALLEY recipes so I had a hard time narrowing it down, but I knew from the beginning that today’s recipe needed to make the final cut. Let’s make Pepper Poppers! 😀
Pepper Poppers is probably the food I eat most early in the game. It provides buffs for both farming and speed, making it perfect for when I’m working on building my farm to max capacity. Judging by the recipe’s in-game thumbnail, Pepper Poppers consists of a mix of red and green breaded peppers, which the description states are spicy and filled with cheese.
I chose jalapeños for my green peppers and mini sweet peppers for the red (since my store didn’t have any red chilis). For the filling, I used a mix of cream cheese and shredded Cheddar, then threw in some chopped pepperoni and chives to make it my own. Since this recipe is a favorite of the character Shane—and he’s the one who gives the player the recipe—I decided to create a batter than uses his favorite beverage, beer. My beer batter is loosely based on this Paula Deen recipe.
These were SO satisfying. Crisp on the outside, then a hit of spice, and ultra creamy in the center. I can see why they’re Shane’s favorite!
A
Pepper Poppers
“Spicy breaded peppers filled with cheese.”
— Stardew Valley
INGREDIENTS:
- For the Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pepperoni
- 2 tsp snipped fresh chives
- For the Poppers
- 6 jalapeño peppers
- 6 red mini sweet peppers
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 11 oz cold beer (I used Guinness, but Goose Island IPA or Newcastle Brown Ale will also work)
- oil for frying
Makes 12 pepper poppers
INSTRUCTIONS:
- FOR THE FILLING. Mix all the filling ingredients together in a medium bowl until well combined and set aside. Cut a slit into the side of each pepper. Gently pull one side just enough to open the pepper (not enough that the side falls off). Deseed the peppers with a small knife and stuff them with the filling. Press them firmly closed, wiping away any excess filling that squeezes out. Set aside.
- FOR THE POPPERS. Set oil in a medium pot over medium heat (you want enough oil for it to stand 2-3 inches deep in the pot. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the beer. When the oil is hot, dip the peppers in the batter a few at a time and fry the poppers for 2 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through if needed. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
- Serve warm to Shane and Maru, the residents of Pelican Town who love this dish the most!
Growing up on the farm, my siblings and I recommend The Farming Game published by weekend farmer company if you want a board game experience 🙂