Red Pasilla Chile Peppers
Inventory, 10 lbs : 0
Description/Taste
Glossy red and brushed with dark shadowy tones, the smooth-skinned red pasilla chile varies in shape and size. Pronounced puh-SEE-yuh, its rich thick flesh offers a mildly warm vegetable flavor. Scoville units: 3 (1000-1500)
Seasons/Availability
Red pasilla chile peppers are available during the summer months.
Current Facts
Hot seasonings are a matter of taste, and one man's pain can be another's pleasure. Start out gently when first tasting chiles.
Nutritional Value
Offering more vitamin A than any other food plant, chiles provide an excellent source of vitamin C, the B vitamins, plus substantial amounts of iron, niacin, thiamine, magnesium, and riboflavin. Nutritionally beneficial, they are cholesterol-free, saturated fat-free, high in fiber and low in sodium and calories. To increase metabolic rate with their thermic effect, six grams of ingested chiles burn off an average of 45 calories in three hours.
Applications
Add mouthwatering flavor to stews, soups, sauces, casseroles, dips, relishes, meat and poultry and sautéed vegetables. Garnish entrees with festive chopped or sliced chilies for extra piquancy and color. Once accustomed to the sizzle of chilies, experiment by combining two or three types in the same dish to provide a different hot flavor. To store, place fresh chilies between paper towels or in a plastic bag or paper bag; refrigerate up to one week.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Tropical countries use chiles the same as bell peppers are used in the Mediterranean region and in Europe. Throughout Asia, chiles are a favorite ingredient for adding spunky heat to sauces. An essential ingredient in Southwestern and Mexican communities, more than one hundred varieties are enjoyed in Mexican cuisine.
Geography/History
Spreading like wildfire worldwide since Christopher Columbus' discovery of these hot pods in the New World, chilies have become a popular and a major ingredient in cuisines all around the globe. January 1, 1493, was documented as Capsicum discovery day by Columbus on the island he named La Espanola, meaning "little Spain". Named Hispaniola at one time, today this island is known as the Dominican Republic. Red pasilla chilies especially love the compatible growing conditions in Mexico.