Serrano peppers are rated at 5,000 – 23,000 Scoville units. That is quite a range and when using them, it is best that you taste test a small bit of it to know just how hot it is. The serrano chili pepper looks like a smaller version of the jalapeno pepper, similar in color, but smaller, about 1 to 4 inches long on average and 1/2 inch wide. They generally grow between 1-4 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide though they have been known to grow longer. The serrano pepper originated in the Mexican states of Puebla and Hidalgo. They are commonly red, brown, orange, or yellow, though you are likely to find them in their more common green color, much like a jalapeno pepper. They are about the same length as Jalapenoes, but slimmer in diameter. Serrano peppers are great for salsas, sauces, relishes, garnishes, salads, and more. They are also very good when roasted. Where a jalapeno is hot (2500 to 10,000 Scoville units), the serrano steps it up a level in the heat zone (see above).

Serrano Chili Peppers

Serrano pepper plants grow about 1 to 1-1/2 feet tall. Each plant can produce up to 50 or more pepper pods. When unripe they are green, but ripe Serrano peppers can be any number of colors, from green to red to brown, orange, or yellow. Most people consider serranos to have a “crisp” flavor, and they are very commonly used in pico de gallo. They are hotter than the Jalapeno pepper, even though they are hotter, most people like eating serranos raw. They are considered to be one of the more flavorful hot peppers which is why they are so so popular.

When to Pick Serrano Peppers

Unripe serrano peppers start out green in color and will typically grow to 3 or 4 inches in length on the plant. As with any chili pepper, you can pick and eat them any time during their growth. The flavors will change as they ripen. Eventually the serrano pods stop growing and will then change color, from green to red, brown, orange or yellow. After that they will fall off of the plant and some may even rot on the plant, so it is best to pick your serrano peppers while they are still green or as they begin to change color. The pepper pods will snap off of the plant easily when they are ready. Leaving the serrano pods on the plant longer, allows them to change colors. The red peppers are slightly sweeter and the red color gives a dish a nice, bright color.

History of the Serrano Pepper

The serrano pepper has a long history in Mexican cooking. The pepper is one of the most commonly found chilies in this area of the world and is very tasty. Many of Mexico’s famous dishes use this pepper as an ingredient. Serrano peppers get their name from the area of the Mexican states of Puebla and Hidalgo. The area is quite mountainous. The word “sierra” means mountain in Spanish and “Serrano” is considered a altered version of this word. Currently, the Mexican states of Veracruz, Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas produce about 180,000 tons of serranos anually.