NMSU’s Cooperative Extension is hosting a free, four-part Preserving Red Chile workshop series in Sept. 2025 with three Zoom sessions and an in-person ristra workshop in Oct. 2025.
Registration is required by 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 for the Zoom series, and the ristra session has a separate, limited-seating sign-up.[1][5][6]
Dates and format
- Zoom sessions: Tuesdays, Sept. 9, 16, and 23, 2025, from 4:00–5:30 p.m. MDT, free and open to the public with advance registration.[5][6][1]
- In-person ristra workshop: Oct. 28, 2025, at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas; separate registration required and seating is limited.[1]
Schedule
Sep. 9: Making and Storing NM Red Chile Sauce
Join us for the first session of our Zoom workshop series dedicated to preserving the rich, bold flavor of New Mexico red chile. In this virtual class, you’ll learn how to make traditional red chile sauce from dried pods, plus techniques for freezing and long-term storage to enjoy the taste of New Mexico year-round.
Whether you’re new to working with red chile or looking to refine your preservation skills, this session offers step-by-step guidance, tips on equipment and storage safety, and answers to your chile-related questions.
Sep. 16: Canning Red Chile Safely – Quality, Methods & Safety Essentials
Take your preservation skills to the next level with our second virtual workshop, focused on canning safety and quality control for New Mexico red chile. In this session, we’ll explore the do’s and don’ts of canning chile, including current food safety guidelines, approved methods, and common mistakes to avoid.
You’ll gain the confidence to preserve your homemade red chile safely while maintaining the rich flavor and vibrant color that makes New Mexico chile so iconic.
Sep. 23: Dehydrating Red Chile – Jerky, Powders & Creative Uses
Wrap up our red chile preservation series with a flavorful and fun exploration of dehydration techniques and inventive recipes using New Mexico red chile. In this final session, we’ll dive into drying methods, how to make your own chile seasoning salts and even how to create chile-infused snacks like red chile jerky.
Learn how to capture the essence of New Mexico chile in lightweight, shelf-stable forms perfect for gifting, cooking, or spicing up your pantry year-round.
How to register
- Register for the Zoom series by Sept. 5, after which a unique Zoom link is provided; the ristra workshop has its own registration link and capacity limits.[5][1]
Accessibility and contacts
Accessibility requests should be sent to the listed agent by the stated deadline on the event page; contact details are provided in the announcement.[1]
If helpful, a related Extension page shows similar chile preservation programming and agent contacts from recent series, which can provide context on topics and presenters.[4][7]
[1] https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-extension-to-host-red-chile-preservation-workshop-series/s/798588cf-6be2-41f8-bc24-fc5abefc0c9e
[2] https://bernalilloextension.nmsu.edu/documents/redchile-flyer.pdf
[3] https://www.newsbreak.com/news/4196231136413-nmsu-extension-to-host-red-chile-preservation-workshop-series
[4] https://sandovalextension.nmsu.edu/chile-presents.html
[5] https://calendar.aces.nmsu.edu
[6] https://valenciaextension.nmsu.edu
[7] https://bernalilloextension.nmsu.edu/foodhealth/food-preserver.html
[8] https://www.instagram.com/p/DAlgdBLPySI/
