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Serrano Peppers Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to serrano pepper products
About serrano peppers
These hot chili peppers received their name from the Mexico mountain ridges where they originated, as the name is derived from the word "sierra," which means "of the mountains." Technically considered a fruit, the serrano pepper is extremely popular when used in Mexican cuisine and is second only to the jalapeno. It's also used in Asian dishes, giving a little heat and sharp flavor.
The pepper didn't become popular in the United States until the 1980s when chefs began using a popular Mexican recipe that included pickled peppers soaked in vinegar with onions and carrots. The red serrano pepper gained notoriety when sriracha hot sauce, which began in Thailand, was introduced. Once hot sauce sales increased, chefs began using red serrano peppers more frequently.
The shape of the serrano pepper is slender and slightly curved with a conical shape that tapers to a rounded point opposite of the stem. Underneath the skin is where you'll find the crisp, thick flesh along with a cavity filled with small, flat seeds.
How to tell when serrano peppers are ripe
Hot peppers are ripe when the weather is the warmest, so look for serrano peppers during the summer months. As with any type of chili pepper, the peppers begin green and darken when they ripen. You can technically eat them at any time during the growing process, although the flavors will change as they ripen.
If you want a milder flavor, choose unripe ones. For a deeper flavor, select ones that are more orange or red in color, as they change color as they ripen. Also, the smaller the pepper, the hotter the flavor. You should also select plump and firm peppers without wrinkles or blemishes. Make sure the pepper doesn't have any moisture around it or within it.
How to prepare serrano peppers
When working with any type of hot pepper, it's important to take precautions, so you don't get the oils on your skin or in your eyes. When you handle these peppers, you might want to wear rubber gloves. The oil from the peppers can leave residue on your fingers, so if you go to rub your face or even your eyes, the oils will sting.
When you bite into a fresh serrano pepper, you should wait a moment before going back for seconds. The reason behind this is that the heat has a delayed reaction and will take a little bit before your tongue starts to tingle. To lower the heat, you can remove the seeds and cut out the fibrous ribs, since that's where a majority of the heat resides.
The peppers are well-suited for both raw and cooking applications. When eaten raw, you can use fresh ones in pasta dough, tamales, and cornbread. Another option for raw serranos is to eat them as a spicy snack, slice them into salads, or mince them up for guacamole, Salsa Verde, or Pico de Gallo.
Because they have thick flesh, serrano peppers hold up well to baking, boiling, frying, and roasting. Many of these applications will further enhance their flavor. Once cooked, combine them into soups, blend them into a sauce, or infuse them with oils.
Before your mouth starts salivating further at all the recipes you can make with serrano peppers, open up your Instacart app and add a few to your cart. Once you do, an Instacart shopper will get started on your order and deliver it directly to your home in as little as 2Â hours!
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FAQs about serrano peppers
These two peppers are often mistaken for each other, mainly because they look similar, especially if you find serranos that are still green in color. They're grown in different regions of Mexico, as the jalapeno originated in Jalapa. The serrano pepper is usually 1 to 2 inches in length, while the jalapeno is a little longer at 2 to 3 inches in length.
The main difference between the two is the heat level. Serrano peppers reach between 10,000 to 25,000 Scoville heat units, which measures the unit of spiciness or heat in a chile, while jalapeno peppers measure 2,500 to 10,000 Scoville units. If you're eating a dish that involves raw peppers or a large number of them, jalapenos are probably your best bet. For a spicy salsa dish, you should use serranos.
Like all chile peppers, serranos keep best when left unwashed and dry. Put them in a plastic bag, and store them in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. Make sure you wash them before use. You can also freeze these peppers. Slice or dice them, and place them in a single row on a baking sheet. Place them in the freezer until they're frozen, and then place them in a freezer-safe zip-top plastic bag. Use the frozen peppers within three months.