Padron Chile Peppers
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Each Padron chile pepper is unique though similar in shape and size with curved and grooved furrows along their skin. Young padrons are crisp, the color of limes, roughly two inches in length and their flavor savory, grassy, piquant and peppery. It is not uncommon to find a firey pepper in the mix (roughly one in 10), making for a bit of Padron roulette. While there is no visual way to tell how hot a young Padron pepper will be, as they age, they will deepen in color and eventually, as in many chile varieties, turn fire engine red and intensify dramatically in their heat level. Thus, it is safe to assume that mature Padron peppers will be hot.
Seasons/Availability
Late Summer
Current Facts
Padron Chile peppers, pimientos de Padron, are a single heirloom non-hybrid variety of peppers and members of the Capsicum family of Americas. The Capsicum pepper family houses hot peppers, among them some of the hottest peppers in the world (habanero, ghost chile). The heat in Capsicum peppers is directly related to how much capsaicin a pepper contains. The younger the Capsicum pepper, generally the less capsaicin levels. Padron chile peppers are picked immaturely so as to avoid the higher levels of capsaicin, allowing for an entirely edible fruit.
Applications
Essentially Padron peppers are a finger food. They are most traditionally and appropriately pan-fried in hot olive oil until the skin blisters, finished with sea salt and lemon juice and served stem-on, though the stem is usually discarded. Padrons can be a lively addition to pizzas, salads, pasta, soups, fritattas and rice dishes such as paella. Padrons pair well with creamy sauces, citrus, manchego cheese, other chiles such as smoked chipotles, lobster, shrimp, chorizo, pork, poultry and tomatoes. Large harvests of padron peppers can create the need to pickle or preserve. They can be cooked and preserved, densely packed in olive oil and sea salt or pickled, following basic pickling methods.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Padron Chile Peppers. One
is easiest, three is harder.
