Red Fresno Chile Peppers
Estimated Inventory, 10 lbs : 42.36
This item was last sold on : 05/13/25
Description/Taste
Red Fresno chile peppers are small, slightly curved to straight pods, averaging 5 to 7 centimeters in length, and have a conical shape that tapers to a rounded point on the non-stem end. The semi-thin skin is smooth, firm, and waxy with a glossy sheen, ripening from green to bright red when mature. Underneath the skin, the flesh is crisp, aqueous, and pale red or green, depending on maturity, encasing a central cavity with thin membranes and round, flat, cream-colored seeds. Red Fresno chile peppers have an earthy and fruity flavor with a moderate to hot level of heat. When cooked, the peppers develop a smoky, sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Red Fresno chile peppers are available in the late summer through fall.
Current Facts
Red Fresno chile peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum annuum, are the mature versions of the culinary pepper that belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Considered to be a moderately hot variety, Red Fresno chile peppers range 2,500 to 8,000 SHU on the Scoville scale and are often mistaken for a red jalapeno due to its similarity in heat and appearance. Red Fresno chile peppers are increasing in popularity as a canning pepper, but when canned or bottled, they are often labeled, "hot chile peppers," leaving no reference to variety. The peppers are also receiving notoriety at fresh markets as a culinary pepper. Chefs are seeking out the sweet, fruity, and spicy pepper and are using its flavor in a wide variety of culinary applications, especially in Mexican, Asian, and American cuisine.
Nutritional Value
Red Fresno chile peppers contain vitamins A and B, which have been shown to help reduce triglyceride levels and to help control blood sugar after meals. The peppers also contain capsaicin, which is a chemical compound that triggers pain receptors in our body to feel the sensation of burning. Capsaicin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and causes the body to release endorphins to counteract the perceived pain.
Applications
Red Fresno chile peppers are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as grilling, roasting, baking, and sautéing. When fresh, the peppers can be diced into salsas and relishes, minced into marinades and dips such as pesto, or roughly chopped and mixed into ceviche. Red Fresno chile peppers can also be cooked down into hot sauces, pureed into sauces such as romesco or rojo cream, tossed into soups, stews, and curries, fire-roasted and stuffed, or charred over an open flame. The peppers develop a smoky flavor when cooked and are a popular topping over tostadas, tacos, pizza, burgers, sausages, and hot dogs. They can also be pickled for extended use or used as a substitute in recipes calling for serrano or jalapeno peppers. Red Fresno chile peppers pair well with barbecued meats, pancetta, seafood, potatoes, polenta, chickpeas, queso fresco, parmesan, cucumbers, lime juice, and red onion. The fresh peppers will keep up to one week when stored whole and unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Fresno chile peppers have become a popular culinary variety among restaurants in the United States and are often considered a “gateway pepper” that provides spice and flavor without overwhelming a dish in heat. Not only used as toppings on pizza, salad bowls, and stir-fries, Red Fresno chile peppers are also being used in cocktails to add a fiery heat to margaritas, juleps, palomas, and tequila-based drinks. The peppers are being infused into simple syrups with ingredients such as rosemary, honey, ginger, and mint, soaked directly into the alcohol for added spice, or are chopped and stirred into the drink as a crisp, fresh, edible element. In addition to earning its place in the culinary scene, a variety of the Red Fresno chile known as the Flaming Flare became an All-American Selections winner in 2015, highly tested and regarded for its ease of growth in home gardens.
Geography/History
Red Fresno chile peppers were developed on a farm near Clovis, California and were released for commercial cultivation by Clarence Brown Hamlin in 1952. Hamlin, known by many as “Brownie,” developed the variety through multiple, selective breeding experiments and named the chile Fresno in honor of his home county Fresno, California. Though not highly marketed when initially released, Red Fresno chile peppers have been heavily marketed in the last decade, increasing sales and its reputation as a culinary pepper. Today Red Fresno chile peppers are grown throughout California, specifically in the San Joaquin Valley, and are also grown in Mexico. The peppers can be found at specialty grocers, farmers markets, and through online seed catalogs for home garden use.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Nolita Hall - Bar | San Diego CA | 619-618-8820 |
| El Sueno (TAKO) | San Diego CA | 619-972-6286 |
| Webbcreationfood LLC | San Diego CA | 619-829-9194 |
| Nadolife Production | San Diego CA | 619-239-1224 |
| Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Paradise Point Resort BQT Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-490-6363 |
| Common Theory Chula Vista | Chula Vista CA | 619-495-3689 |
| Coasterra | San Diego CA | 619-814-1300 |
| Bar Ella | San Diego CA | 858-808-2286 |
| The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
| Blue Ocean | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-4959 |
| Copper Kings | San Marcos CA | 323-810-1662 |
| Palmys | San Diego CA | 858-886-7111 |
| Flap Your Jacks | San Diego CA | 858-224-7442 |
| Wine Vault & Bistro | San Diego CA | 619-295-3939 |
| Trust Restaurant | San Diego CA | 609-780-7572 |
| Upper East | Escondido CA | 619-787-1617 |
| The Taco Stand | San Diego CA | 619-549-9919 |
| Le Coq | La Jolla CA | 858-427-1500 |
| Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Deeply Nourished | La Jolla CA | 808-489-7366 |
| Cove House | La Jolla CA | 858-999-0034 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Grill | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Prey Brewing Company | Vista CA | 760-822-4226 |
| Blue Whale | La Jolla CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Campfire | Carlsbad CA | 760-637-5121 |
| Pizza Kaiju | San Diego CA | 619-240-2716 |
| Public House 131 | San Diego CA | 858-537-0890 |
| Finca North Park | San Diego CA | 619-581-3003 |
| The Crack Shack Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa CA | 951-808-7790 |
| Shore Rider | La Jolla CA | 858-412-5308 |
| Cocina de Barrio Point Loma | San Diego CA | 858-349-2313 |
| Mission Pacific | Oceanside CA | 760-450-7864 |
| Hane | San Diego CA | 619-339-6438 |
| Cocina de Barrio Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 760-840-1129 |
| Moxy San Diego Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-376-1850 |
| Cocina De Barrio | San Diego CA | 760-840-1129 |
| Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
| Wormwood | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
| Green Acres Campus | San Diego CA | 858-450-9907 |
| The Barista Botanist | San Diego CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Mitch's Seafood | San Diego CA | 619-316-7314 |
| Espadin | Temecula California | 951-383-5585 |
| Rustic Root Solana | Solana Beach CA | 619-955-5750 |
| La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
| The Crack Shack-Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 877-230-1871 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Himitsu | La Jolla CA | 858-345-0220 |
| JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
| Tribute Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-220-0030 |
| Marisi La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 951-852-6730 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego CA | 877-517-9340 |
| Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
| WaterBar | San Diego CA | 619-308-6500 |
| Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
| Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
| Cesarina | San Diego CA | 619-226-6222 |
| Sugar and Scribe | La Jolla CA | 858-274-1733 |
| InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Artifact at Mingei | San Diego CA | 619-846-2164 |
| Sugar Bear Enterprises | San Diego CA | 925-383-3623 |
| Seneca | San Diego CA | 619-588-2411 |
| The Go Go Truck | San Diego CA | 401-837-1740 |
| Kingfisher | San Diego CA | 619-861-8074 |
| Kismet Refining Company | Escondido CA | 708-370-4734 |
| Vitality Tap - 1St Ave | San Diego CA | 619-237-7625 |
| Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Oyster and Pearl Bar Restaurant | La Mesa CA | 619-303-8118 |
| Bayside Landing | San Diego CA | 858-270-9200 |
| Books and Records | San Diego CA | 619-310-5298 |
| Bound Coffee | Oceanside CA | 760-805-3505 |
| Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters | La Jolla CA | 858-228-5655 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Dija Mara | Oceanside CA | 760-231-5376 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| The Crack Shack PB | San Diego CA | 619-450-7978 |
| Waverly | Cardiff CA | 619-244-0416 |
| Black Raill Kitchen + Bar | Carlsbad CA | 619-454-9182 |
| Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | 909-915-9877 |
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Cocina de Barrio NP | San Diego CA | 858-349-2313 |
| Machete Coffee | National City CA | 858-336-5390 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
| Miss B's Coconut Club | San Diego CA | 858-381-0855 |
| J & Tonys | San Diego CA | 855-634-7664 |
| Sovereign Thai Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-887-2000 |
| Hotel Republic San Diego | San Diego CA | 951-756-9357 |
| Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens | Escondido CA | 915-861-2297 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Jujus Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-471-5342 |
| The Kitchen at MCASD | La Jolla CA | 619-894-2051 |
| Javier Plascencia (Finca) | Bonita CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Sbicca Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 619-417-2587 |
| Lumi | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| Craft House Fashion Valley | San Diego CA | 619-948-4458 |
| Fay's Diner and Cafe | San Diego CA | 661-858-8895 |
| Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
| Craft House Sky Deck | San Diego CA | 619-948-4458 |
| Smoking Gun (Pastry) | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 |
| The Remy | San Diego CA | 619-886-1358 |
| Make Stuff Good | San Diego CA | 949-547-9470 |
| Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 619-884-5350 |
| The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza | Oceanside CA | 760-310-1535 |
| Duke's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-1999 |
| Sycuan Casino | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
| Adobo House | San Diego CA | 619-990-8340 |
| Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
| Encontro North Park | San Diego CA | 310-955-6333 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Tartine | Coronado CA | 619-435-4323 |
| Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
| Aztec Shop Catering | San Diego CA | 619 594-3576 |
| Pizzeria Luigi | San Diego CA | 610-539-7025 |
| Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
| Moniker Coffee Company | San Diego CA | 619-255-9118 |
| Blue Water Estate Services | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-720-9831 |
| Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill (UTC) | San Diego CA | 858-886-9909 |
| Moment Sushi | San Diego CA | 858-230-6268 |
| Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
| The Shout House | San Diego CA | 619-231-6700 |
| On the Crawl Concepts-Inland Tavern | San Marcos CA | 760-744-8782 |
| Vinya: Vino & Vinyasa | San Diego CA | 858-703-8101 |
| Brandon Matzek- Blogger | San Diego CA | 800-221-9730 |
| Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
| Cody's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0040 |
| The Joint | San Diego CA | 619-222-8272 |
| Animae | San Diego CA | 619-925-7908 |
| Smokin J's BBQ | San Diego CA | 703-314-1486 |
| Cellar Hand | San Diego CA | 334-689-2388 |
| Mesa College | San Diego CA | 619-388-2240 |
| Sisters Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-228-6822 |
| Candor | La Jolla CA | 858-581-2205 |
| Camino Riviera | San Diego CA | 619-685-3881 |
| Storyhouse Spirits | San Diego CA | 801-949-5955 |
| Barra Oliba | San Diego CA | 610-310-5110 |
| Slowly | San Diego CA | 858-352-6080 |
| Kairoa Brewing Company | San Diego CA | 858-735-0051 |
| Southwestern Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-222-0438 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Huntress | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| The Crack Shack-San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-795-3299 |
| Monello (Bar) | San Diego CA | 619-822-5493 |
| Kona Kai Resort and Marina | San Diego CA | 619-221-8000 |
| Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon CA | 619-644-7585 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Gravity Heights Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-384-5993 |
| WineSellar & Brasserie | San Diego CA | 858-450-9557 |
| Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
| Garbatella Osteria Bar | Chula Vista CA | 619-651-1185 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
| Sisters Pizza (NP) | San Diego CA | 858-228-6822 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
| Knotty Barrel- Rancho | San Diego CA | 858-484-8758 |
| South O Brewing Catering | Oceanside CA | 925-381-5392 |
| Fort Oak | San Diego CA | 619-795-6901 |
| Mabel's Gone Fishing | San Diego CA | 619-228-9851 |
| Bencotto Italian Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-822-5493 |
| Fortunate Son | San Diego CA | 619-806-6121 |
| Fresco Cocina | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
| Mavericks Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-999-0348 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Red Fresno Chile Peppers. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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