Serrano
Capsicum annuum
A compact, bright green chile with a clean, direct heat profile and broad fresh-use value.
Hot
10,000–23,000 SHU
- sweet
- earthy
- cited
- Flavor
- Green, direct, clean heat.
- Origin
- Mexico
- Best uses
- Fresh salsa, sauce, pickling.
- Days to maturity
- 70-85
How the heat plays out
Hits immediately, climbs to a high peak, and lingers a while, felt on the tongue and through the mouth. Clean, pointed
In the kitchen
- Fresh
- Firm enough for fresh salsas and sauces.
- Dried
- Useful dried but not defined by it.
- Smoked
- Can take smoke, though less iconic than jalapeño.
- Roasted
- Good blistered or charred.
- Fermented
- Suitable for hot sauces.
Substitutes
Compare all
Sources
- Pásele pásele chiles Biblioteca Angelopolitana / Gobierno Municipal de Puebla
- Ahora es cuando chile verde, le has de dar sabor al caldo Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural
- Ventura Garden to Table Series - Peppers UC Master Gardener Program of Ventura County / UC Agriculture and Natural Resources