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Your Ultimate Guide To Chili Peppers: From Mild To Wild
Cooking with chili, from recipes to different cuisines
By Jane Curran · July 12, 2023
Originally published on loveFOOD
Some like it hot
Whether it’s just a hint of heat you’re looking for or something that packs a potent punch, there’s no denying that chilies – in all their forms – add flavor, balance and depth to savory and sweet dishes. Read about the different types of chili pepper and how they're used around the world, with tips and tricks on using them in recipes, such as spicy curries, grills, tacos, pasta and rice.Heat measure
To determine how hot a particular chili is, it's measured on the Scoville Scale (which is a measurement of the pungency), which was invented by a clever chap called Wilbur Scoville. It measures the heat by the amount of capsaicin in the chili – the compound which gives chilies their sting. Poblano chilies are one of the mildest, measuring 1,000-3,500 SHU (Scoville heat units), to the terrifyingly hot Carolina reaper (pictured), which weighs in at 1,500,000-2,200,000 SHU.
Cooling chili burn
In cuisines which traditionally use large amounts of chili, such as a fiery Indian vindaloo, some form of carb is served as an accompaniment to help temper the heat. Yogurt, cream, milk or cheese help as dairy products contain casein (a slow-digesting dairy protein), which neutralizes capsaicin.
Where's the heat?
Contrary to popular belief, it's the membrane which attaches the seeds inside a chili which contain the heat, not the seed itself. So, if you're nervous about the amount of chili in a recipe, slice off the membrane once the seeds are removed when cooking it for the first time.
Handling chilies
If you’re sensitive to capsaicin, it’s better to wear rubber or latex gloves while cutting chilies, and even if your stomach can handle the heat, it is recommended that everyone avoids touching their eyes, nose and other sensitive areas of the body during handling. Wash utensils and chopping boards in hot, soapy water after use and wash hands thoroughly with soap to remove all traces. If you do get some in your eyes, soak a cotton pad in cold milk and apply as a compress.
How to deseed fresh chilies
To remove the seeds and membrane, rub a whole chili between your palms, slice off the top and tap out the seeds. Then, slice it in half, cut or scrape off the membranes, then turn it over and flatten skin-side up, before slicing or chopping according to your recipe.
How to store chilies
Fresh chilies will keep for a week or so in the fridge – just place them loose in the salad drawer – or you can freeze them. Open freeze them on a tray and then pack them into freezer bags once frozen. Alternatively, you can whiz them with a neutral oil into a purée and freeze them in ice cube trays. Fresh chilies can also be dried on a sunny windowsill or pickled in a vinegar solution. Dried chilies will keep for 12 months in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard.
Cooking with chilies
Forever versatile, chilies can be used both fresh and dry to infuse dry rubs, marinades, oils and vinegars with heat. They are added to many dishes such as sauces, broths, dipping sauces and condiments. Treat them as you would any spice but, as a guide, do as your recipe suggests. If it calls for fresh chilies don’t substitute for dried as there can be a significant difference in taste and piquancy.
Green or red?
Believe it or not,green chilies are just as hot as red – they are at the unripe stage when green. Just like the difference between a green and red bell pepper, red chilies will be sweeter and more rounded in flavor, but still as hot.
Grow your own
Chilies are remarkably easy to grow if you have a hot, sunny spot in the garden or on your windowsill. Most chili plants are heavy croppers, so you don't need many, and they don't require much TLC. They just need plenty of sun and the occasional water.
Scotch bonnet chilies
Widely used across the Caribbean and West Africa, this fiery chili is so-called as it resembles a tam o' shanter (a traditional Scottish bonnet). It is a cousin of the habanero chili and weighs in at a huge 100,000-350,000 SHU. Try it in our chickpea and plantain curry recipe – an easy vegan one-pot where the heat of the chili is tempered by cooling coconut milk.
Jalapeño chilies
This Mexican chili is one of the most popular out there. It has a very broad range on the Scoville Scale, so it's a gamble on how hot they will be. They're often pickled when green – a perfect addition to a grilled cheese, so check out our recipe. The ripe, red jalapeños are smoked and dried to become chipotle.
Get the recipe for grilled cheese with pickled jalapeños here
Bird's eye chilies
Originally from South America, these small, hot chilies – both green and red – are widely used across Southeast Asia. They may be tiny, but they can come in at a mighty 200,000 SHU. They work a treat in our crab cakes recipe, where chilies are combined with green mango, lemongrass and fresh cilantro to deliver a fragrant, hot and sour flavor.
Get the recipe for crab cakes with lemongrass and green mango here
Kashmiri chilies
If you're looking for a milder chili which adds a vibrant red color to dishes, then this Indian chili is the one. It's usually found dried or in powder form, and it is a key ingredient in tandoori chicken. It's used in our beef madras recipe – a creamy, rich, spicy curry which is quick to prepare but does need slow cooking on the hob.
Cayenne chilies
More well-known in its dried, powdered form, cayenne is a great plant to grow as they are prolific and sturdy. Cayenne is about halfway up the Scoville Scale, so they do pack a good punch. The powder, of course, is a great store cupboard item as it's hot but also a little fruity. Try it in our chicken burger recipe, where the chicken is marinated in buttermilk for meltingly tender meat.
Poblano chilies
This is a big chili – nearly as large as a green pepper – and it's very popular in Mexico. It's mild and fruity, often featured in chili con carne, made into a creamy sauce or used as mole poblano (a sauce with chocolate served with meat). When dried, poblano becomes ancho chilies. Try our Mexican roast chicken dish, where ancho makes a marinade and it's served with a citrus slaw.
Chilies in Mexican cooking
Whether fresh, dried, smoked or in a jar, Mexicans love their chilies. Jalapeño and poblano are the most popular, although Mexican cuisine often uses a few different ones to add smokiness, hints of fruit or more heat. Our beef birria tacos are a must, where tender rib of beef is flavored with chipotle, achiote paste and loaded into tortillas with sweet onions, garlic, orange and cheese.
Chilies in American cooking
Whether it's a Tex-Mex recipe or a Cajun jambalaya, chilies are dominant in many recipes across the Southern states. Fresh, dried and bottles of hot sauce are popular, and, of course, Avery Island in Louisiana is the home of Tabasco sauce. Try our Cajun seafood gumbo, with ham, okra, shrimp and crab. It is a winning dish that serves eight with a side of rice.
Chilies in French cooking
Chilies are not a part of classical French cooking, but the French do enjoy chili tastes in the widespread Vietnamese restaurants across the country. In the Basque Country, they have their own chili called Espelette, which is mild and fruity with a hint of smokiness. It's a key ingredient in our Basque-style chicken – an easy and tasty one-pot recipe with bell peppers, potatoes, garlic and white wine.
Chilies in Spanish cooking
Chilies are used sparingly in Spain to enhance flavor than add searing heat. Yet, they love their padròn peppers, which are small green peppers chargrilled with salt as a tapa, where there's always a hot one lurking. More often though they are used as paprika – smoked or unsmoked – to add gentle heat, such as in a paella with spicy chorizo sausage.
Chilies in Italian cooking
Chilies are rarely used in northern Italian cooking, but the further south you go, a little will appear. Italians use it in moderation to bring out other flavors rather than just adding heat. You'll find it in pasta sauces, such as amatriciana and arrabbiata, to flavor sausages, and there's often a touch of chili in fish dishes, such as in our pappardelle with cod and cherry tomatoes recipe.
Get the recipe for pappardelle with cod and cherry tomatoes here
Chilies in Korean cooking
The flavors in Korean food are unique, so you need to use specific ingredients to replicate the tastes at home. Rather than fresh chilies, they use a fermented soybean chili paste called gochugang, which is deeply savory and pungent. The Korean chili powder is gochugaru, which is spicy, smoky and sweet. Try our recipe for classic sticky, spicy and crisp Korean fried chicken.
Chilies in Indian cooking
Each region of India has its own culinary heritage, but chilies are used everywhere, usually blended with other spices such as cumin and cilantro, with garlic and ginger playing a starring role. Of course, there are some curries which are very hot, but these are served with cooling yogurt and cucumber, rice or flat breads. Try our gorgeously tender Kashmiri roast chicken with saffron.
Chilies in South American cooking
Given that chilies are indigenous to South America, it's no surprise they pop up in recipes across the continent. Like Europeans, South Americans use it sparingly to enhance and balance other flavors, rather than making it searingly hot. There's no better sauce than a chimichurri from Argentina for a steak. It's herb-based, with oil, vinegar, lemon and just a hint of chili.
Chilies in Caribbean cooking
You've been warned – fiery Scotch bonnet chilies are very much the chili of choice in the Caribbean. Whether they're in a traditional goat curry or a jerk chicken dish, they are usually combined with allspice – a berry which tastes of cloves and cinnamon. You can buy ready-made jerk seasoning but try making your own at home for a classic jerk chicken for the grill.
Chilies in Thai cooking
Thais love their chilies, so many of their dishes have a kick because of them. Thai curries are made with coconut milk, with fragrance from ginger, lemongrass and fresh herbs, and come with rice to cool down the heat. Try Thai curry tofu panang – spicy and aromatic with a lovely hint of sweetness from coconut and palm sugar – which is quick to prepare.
Chilies in Chinese cooking
Heat is a key part of Chinese cooking, where chili bean pastes (fermented soybean and chili), chili oils, dried chilies and chili powder are all part of the Chinese store cupboard. When fresh chilies are called for, use bird's eye or a larger red chili, depending upon how much heat you like. In our dan dan noodle soup recipe, chili bean paste adds savory flavors as well as heat.
Chilies in Middle Eastern cooking
Middle Eastern dishes are rarely too fiery, where chilies are blended with aromatic spices, garlic and herbs. In our warming, Palestinian spicy shrimp and tomato stew, you can adjust the heat to suit your palate. With the balanced sweetness of tomatoes, it's all cooked in one-pan and is ready in under an hour.
Hot sauces for the store cupboard
While there are plenty of spicy sauces and condiments you can make at home, you always need hot sauce in the cupboard. Chili bean sauce, gochujang, habanero, sweet chili, Frank's RedHot, Sriracha and Tabasco, among others, have a unique flavor that is hard to recreate at home.
Homemade chili oil
It really couldn't be easier to make your own chili oil with just three ingredients. Our recipe uses a light olive oil, which makes it the perfect oil to drizzle on pizzas, pasta and grilled cheese. If you prefer a more versatile oil to use in stir-fries, use peanut or sunflower instead.
Homemade chili jam
Our chili jam recipe is easy to make – ready in under an hour – and will keep for three months in sterilized jars. You could add a spoonful to a chili con carne, a tomato-based pasta sauce or serve it with Thai-style fishcakes. It's great with nachos or to pep up a cheese sandwich.
Chili in salsas
All salsas need a pinch of chili, whether they're tomato or fruit based. The chili is essential for balancing out the flavors – namely sweet from the fruit, fragrance from herbs and acidity from lemon or lime. Try out our pineapple salsa recipe, which is paired with a lightly spiced salmon fillet, perfect for feeding a crowd.
Chili in cocktails
Why not use chilies in cocktails? Infuse a sugar syrup with a few slivers of fresh chili or add a pinch of smoked chili powder to salt when edging your glass for a margarita. Try our gin cocktail recipe with homemade lemonade and chili, which is fresh and tangy with a hint of heat.
Chili and chocolate
Chili adds warming, spicy notes to chocolate and now it's so popular that you can buy chocolate bars ready-infused with chili. Add a pinch to your hot chocolate or chocolate mousse, and try our rich hot chocolate cake, which is dairy and gluten-free. It is rustled up in no time and perfect served with a dollop of whipped cream.
Homemade chili dipping sauce
If you're a lover of egg rolls, lettuce wraps, summer rolls and potstickers, have a go at making your own dipping sauce, which is way better than reaching for that bottle of sweet chili sauce. Our recipe, served with shrimp noodle rolls, will keep in the fridge for up to two days. It's fragrant from ginger, hot from fresh chili, nutty from sesame oil, and paired with fresh lime and cilantro.
Get the recipe for shrimp noodle rolls with Thai dipping sauce here
Chili in chutney and jam
A chili will lift any favorite chutney recipe, especially fruity ones such as mango, and a small pinch works wonders in homemade strawberry jam to take out a little of the sweetness. Our grilled cheese and chutney sandwich is made with a mint and cilantro chutney, laced with chili and mixed with grated cheese.
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