Serrano pepper
Encyclopedia
The serrano pepper is a type of chili pepper
that originated in the mountainous regions of the Mexican
states
of Puebla
and Hidalgo. The name of the pepper is a reference to the mountains (sierras) of these regions.
Mature serrano pepper plants reach a height of between one and a half and five feet tall. Each plant can hold up to fifty pepper pods. Unripe serrano peppers are green, but the color at maturity varies. Common colors are green, red, brown, orange, or yellow.
The serrano pepper's Scoville rating
is 10,000 to 25,000. Their flavor is crisp, bright, and biting, notably hotter than the Jalapeño pepper they resemble, and they are typically eaten raw. Serrano peppers are also commonly used in making pico de gallo
. It is one of the most used chiles in Mexico.
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
that originated in the mountainous regions of the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
states
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
of Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
and Hidalgo. The name of the pepper is a reference to the mountains (sierras) of these regions.
Mature serrano pepper plants reach a height of between one and a half and five feet tall. Each plant can hold up to fifty pepper pods. Unripe serrano peppers are green, but the color at maturity varies. Common colors are green, red, brown, orange, or yellow.
The serrano pepper's Scoville rating
Scoville scale
The Scoville scale is a measurement of the spicy heat of a chili pepper. The number of Scoville heat units indicates the amount of capsaicin present. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in the skin, especially the mucous membranes.The scale is named after...
is 10,000 to 25,000. Their flavor is crisp, bright, and biting, notably hotter than the Jalapeño pepper they resemble, and they are typically eaten raw. Serrano peppers are also commonly used in making pico de gallo
Pico de gallo
In Mexican cuisine, pico de gallo , also called salsa fresca, is a fresh, uncooked condiment made from chopped tomato, white onion, and chilis...
. It is one of the most used chiles in Mexico.