Piquillo Pepper is a variant of chili, having a sweet taste, unlike other varieties with pungent, bitter and hot taste. About 7 cm in length, they are grown in pots. Traditionally grown in the northern part of Spain, this variant of chili has become a staple food all over the country. The Spanish term Piquillo Pepper means “little beak and it has been inspired by its little beak.” For, it has been picked and produced entirely by hand and treated organically by using no chemicals in the washing, roasting and peeling process. In this write-up, we have shared a lot of interesting facts about these variants of chili that you will love to read.
- The Piquillo Pepper has a rich, spicy-sweet flavor that must be cooked well before eating. After all, its leathery skin is too tough to be chewed and served raw.
- These plants are usually cultivated in pots and grown in Nothern Spain. The harvest of this plant in September and December.
- When ripe, these peppers are vibrant red in color. However, they are harvested during different stages of ripeness. So, they are available in green and vibrant red color. The most commonly used type is the red-colored piquillo. The green piquillo peppers are harvested before they become fully ripe. Such piquillos possess a sharp and less sweet flavor.
- Unlike other chili peppers, piquillo peppers have a sweet and smoky flavor that is partly due to the method of processing. These peppers are roasted over open fire. And, once roasted, they are peeled and seeded for the following year.
- The processing of these Peppers is done organically. No chemicals are used while processing these peppers. They are not even rinsed before peeling and seeding.
- It is mainly used for preparing Spanish dishes, like tapas, in which this pepper is stuffed with cheese, seafood, cooked rice, or meat. Piquillos are also used in soups, stews, sandwiches, and salads.
- Piquillo peppers are rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins A, B, C and E. Research say that the vitamin C content in piquillo peppers is almost similar to that of citrus fruits, and their beta carotene content is similar to that of carrots.
- Piquillo Peppers are highly beneficial for those experiencing poor sleep quality. This plant has neurological and psychological effects that help the production of the hormone melatonin hormone.
- These peppers contain some of the essential coenzymes to activate 100 other enzymes.
Today, Piquillo Peppers are used in various food recipes, especially in Spanish cuisines. At Gastronomic Spain, we use roasted piquillo peppers to prepare various cuisines like, the ‘tapas’, that are piquillo stuffed with a wide range of ingredients like crab, chickpeas, cheese, rice, etc.
