Produce Briefs...
Bitter Melon
The Bitter melon is long and slender, similar to the shape of a standard cucumber with a rough, warty edible skin and off-white translucent crisp and bitter flesh bearing flat white bitter seeds.
Baby Celery
Baby celery is hydroponically grown, with long, thin stalks and mature, full leaves. Similar in size to cilantro or parsley, baby celery has an intense celery flavor that is much stronger than that mature celery heads.
Seasons/Availability
Red Fresno chile peppers are available year round.
Current Facts
Red Fresno chiles AKA chile caribe or chile cera, are a mature Fresno chile pepper. It is a perennial chile pepper grown primarily as an annual. Fresno chiles are of the species, Capsicum annuum, a species of peppers native to South America. They are also the same species as jalapenos, though a different cultivar and often mistaken for jalapenos. Fresno chile peppers are used as a fresh market hot chile pepper or as a canning pepper. When canned or bottled they are often simply labeled, "hot chile peppers", leaving no reference to variety. Fresno chiles do not have a home in the dried chile market as their flesh is too thick to endure the air-drying process successfully.
Description/Taste
Red Fresno chiles are petit but plump thumb-sized conically shaped chiles. Their skin, smooth, firm and waxy with a glossy sheen. Their flesh contains a cottony membrane which bears numerous creamy white seeds. These seeds can be dried and used to grow future crops of the peppers. Fresno chiles are considered a hot chile pepper, with flavor and heat similar to that of a jalapeno or a serrano chile. Though the seeds are hot, the flesh's cross ribs and membrane contain the compound called capsaicinoid. This single compound is responsible for the pepper's heat. As the seeds cling to the ribs and membrane they inherently absorb the heat of the capsaicinoid. The red Fresno is categorized as a hot pepper ranking between 2,500 to 8,000 units on the Scoville index. Cooking Fresno chiles brings out a smoky sweetness that is not found in its raw form.
Nutritional Value
Fresno chiles have an incredible amount of nutritional and health benefits. Chilies are packed with Vitamins A and B, have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and prevent blood clots, control blood sugar/insulin levels after meals, possibly effectively preventing Type 2 Diabetes and are essentially calorie free. Studies have shown hey may prevent prostate cancer by actually convincing cancer cells to kill themselves through a process called apoptosis. Capsaicin, the compound behind the chili's heat, is an anti-inflammatory agent as well as a natural pain reliever. For the calorie counters, chiles are calorie free and they increase metabolic rates.
Applications
Fresno peppers can be used as an accompaniment to dishes or as the main ingredient. They can be added to salsas, used in relishes, fire roasted and stuffed with cheeses, potatoes, seafood and meat. The can be used as a topping for tostadas, burgers, sausages and hot dogs. Fresno chiles can be used in recipes that you would otherwise consider jalapenos or serranos. They can be added to ceviches and marinades, used as the base for sauces such as romanesco and rojo cream sauces.
Geography/History
The Fresno chile is a rather young variety of chile peppers. It was developed and released for commercial cultivation by Clarence Brown in 1952. Brown named the chile "Fresno" in honor of Fresno, California. Brown is also credited for developing the smaller conical "Cascabella" chile. Fresno chiles prefer warm to hot and dry climates with long sunny summer days and cool nights for optimal growing conditions. They are grown throughout California, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, which is considered the most productive agricultural region in the world.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Brockton Villa Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-454-7393 |
| Prepkitchen Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-247-0394 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Spike Africa's Fresh Fish Bar & Grill | San Diego CA | 858-401-0608 |
| Burlap | San Diego CA | 858 369 5700 |
| Marriott Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-696-0234 x6051 |
| The Oceanaire Miscellaneous | San Diego CA | 619-858-2277 |
| Stevie's Catering | San Diego CA | 619-298-7706 |
| JR Produce | San Diego CA | 858-270-3857 |
| Croces | San Diego CA | 619-233-4355 |
| Davanti Enoteca El Camino Real | San Diego CA | 858-519-5060 |
| Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
| Hotel Palomar-Salt Box | San Diego CA | 619-515-4062 |
| The Bier Garden | Encinitas CA | 760-632-2437 |
| Prepkitchen La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-875-7737 |
| Pizzeria Mozza-San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-376-4353 |
| Gabardine Bar | San Diego CA | 619-398-9810 |
| Waypoint Public | San Diego CA | 619-255-8778 |
| Cantina Mayahuel | San Diego CA | 619-283-6292 |
| San Diego Culinary Institute Inc. | La Mesa CA | 619-644-2100 |
| Soda & Swine | San Diego CA | 619-269-7632 |
| Gauchito Grill | San Marcos CA | 858-705-1747 |
| Solace & the Moonlight Lounge | Encinitas CA | 760-753-2433 |
| Azul La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-454-9677 |
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Art Institute of San Diego | San Diego CA | 858-598-1200 |
| Tartine | Coronado CA | 619-435-4323 |
| Miho Gastrotruck | San Diego CA | 619-867-4295 |
| Cafe Chloe | San Diego CA | 619-232-3242 |
| Hilton Garden Inn | San Diego CA | 858-720-9500 |
| J six | San Diego CA | 619-531-8744 |
| The Oceanaire Seafood Room | San Diego CA | 619-858-2277 |
| Whisknladle | San Diego CA | 858-551-7575 |
| Great Maple | San Diego CA | 619-255-2282 |
| Searsucker | San Diego CA | 619-233-7327 |
| Gabardine | San Diego CA | 619-398-9810 |
| Cowboy Star | San Diego CA | 619-450-5880 |
| La Villa | San Diego CA | 619-255-5221 |
| Blind Lady | San Diego CA | 619-255-2491 |
| BFD-Big Front Door | San Diego CA | 619-255-4100 |
| Cucina Urbana | San Diego CA | 619-239-2222 |
| Herringbone | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0221 |
| Craft and Commerce (Sekscobra Inc.) | San Diego CA | 619-962-5935 |
| Prepkitchen Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-7737 |
| Truluck's Seafood Steak and Crab House | San Diego CA | 858-453-2583 |
| Monello | San Diego CA | 619-501-0030 |
| Pacific Beach Ale House | San Diego CA | 858-581-2337 |
| Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
| Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
| Lei Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-813-2272 |
| Brooklyn Girl | San Diego CA | 619-296-4600 |
| Fishery | San Diego CA | 858-272-9985 |
| Cucina Enoteca | Del Mar CA | 619-239-2222 |
| Fish Public | San Diego CA | 619-281-4014 |
| Empire House Urban Palate | San Diego CA | 619-278-8175 |
| Sea & Smoke | Del Mar CA | 858-925-8212 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Red Fresno Chile Peppers. One
is easiest, three is harder.| What Did You Eat? |
|
Wok Tossed Salmon with Red Fresno Chiles and Basil |
| Food 52 |
|
Fresh Sriracha |
| Cake and Commerce |
|
Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Jam |
| meishichina |
|
法餐头牌－烤彩椒沙拉 |
| Bon Appetit |
|
Avjar |
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Red Fresno Chile Peppers using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Publix Super Market at Northshore Town Center Near Farragut, Tennessee, United States About 138 days ago, 7/27/13 PrepKitchen Near San Diego, California, United States About 288 days ago, 2/27/13 Spotter's comments : Spicy and sweet Fresno chile peppers are perfect paired with pork belly and spinach on PrepKitchen's scrumptious flatbread! |
