Pick a Pepper
© Chef LaLa
Bring on the heat and make your dishes go from mild to wild by adding fire and flavor to your food with chile peppers. While bell peppers are sweet and mild, Habanero, the hottest, can be fiery. The heat or fire is caused by the natural chemical in peppers called capsaicin, which stimulates nerve endings in the skin.
Peppers have been consumed in the Americas since 7500 BC and were cultivated around the globe when Columbus discovered that their taste was similar to black pepper. Many cultures use some type of peppers in their cuisines because they add flavor and are believed to have medicinal benefits. Red chilis contain high amounts of vitamin c and provitamin A and are a good source of most B vitamins, B6 in particular. They are also very high in potassium, magnesium and iron. Peppers can be used raw, roasted, baked, pickled, grilled, and in powder form. Since they are so good and so good for you, why not try some today*:
|
PEPPER |
HOTTNESS RANKING |
NOTES |
|
Bell |
Negligible |
Sweeter flavor |
|
Banana Wax |
Negligible |
Yellow-green; slightly sweet; fruity. Add raw to mild salsas or roast and use in tacos or as a pizza topping |
|
Anaheim |
Mild |
Green and usually roasted before using in sauces and salsas |
|
Poblano |
Mild to Medium |
Dark green; large; sweet flavor. Usually roasted for use in sauces and enchiladas or fried in chiles rellenos |
|
Fresno |
Mild to Medium |
Red; spicy, sweet flavor. Serve raw in slaws and dips or cooked in soups |
|
Pasilla |
Mild to Medium |
Dried with a smoky flavor |
|
New Mexican |
Medium Hot |
Dried and used in chile verde |
|
Jalapeno |
Medium Hot |
Pickled rings used as a topping. Mostly green; some red; used raw in salsas and guacamole |
|
Chile de arbol |
Very Hot |
Related to cayenne and used in powder form |
|
Serrano |
Very Hot |
Small and fiery green or red. Tangy flavor used raw in salsa or cooked in curries and chili. |
|
Thai Bird |
Very Hot |
Red (most common) green, yellow or orange with peppery, nutty flavor. Used in southeast Asian stir-fries, curries, soups and salads |
|
Habanero |
Extremely Hot |
Hottest chile; sweet, fruity flavor. Orange hotter than red, Used in salsas, hot sauces, and marinades |
*As with anything, moderation is the key. If you suffer from digestive disorders such as GERD or IBS, peppers can aggravate these conditions so be sure to check with your health care provider before adding peppers to your diet.
Posted in Salsas, Vegetables, Condiments, Ingredients and Flavors, Cooking Techniques, check this out • 1 Comment »
