Cherry pepper is a moderately hot chili pepper, known for its round shape, thick flesh, and its vibrant red color. It is used in pickling recipes and used as a common ingredient to spice up the dishes.
The fresh cherry peppers are usually available during summer time. However preserved or pickled cherry peppers are available throughout the year, very convenient to enjoy them whenever needed.
What is cherry pepper?
Cherry peppers are medium hot peppers, widely used as condiments. Moreover, one of the popular peppers you may find in the salad bars.
Because of its unique ball shaped structure, this chili pepper is also often termed as ‘Cherry bomb pepper’.
These are widely used to increase the spice level in a variety of dishes like pizza or hot dogs. Additionally, these are also a popular bite sized snack. Furthermore, the crunchy, moist texture makes them excellent to enjoy as pickles.
Same as most verities of pepper, the matured and ripened cherry pepper looks impressive with a deep red color. And a gorgeous, contrast looking green colored stem.
An intro to cherry pepper
These inherited the name cherry peppers for their resemblance towards cherry’s color and its shape. But the heat profile makes them a complete contrast to the real cherry.
Cherry peppers belong to the Capsicum annuum family, and have a mild sweet taste.
It’s body is spherical in shape that flattens at the bottom. It has a crispy texture and firm skin. Its flesh is moist and thick. The seeds are clustered in the middle, that is attached to its rib.
The rib and the seeds cover most parts and leave little hollow space inside the pepper.
What does it taste like?
Despite its heat profile, these do taste mildly sweet. When tasting at first, instantly the palate may feel the sweetness. Later, the heat slowly starts spreading and may last for a couple of minutes.
The heat is not scorching but not tingling as well(This is general observancy, and the heat tolerance may vary for each individual).
How hot are cherry pepper?
The cherry peppers measured at 2500-5000 SHU in Scoville scale. Meaning, These are hotter than the bell pepper, poblano, or ancho chilies.
In general, it is approximately nearer to jalapeno pepper’s heat(where jalapeno’s Scoville scale units range from 3000-7000 SHU).
What to do with cherry pepper?
There are numerous recipes out there to use cherry peppers in different ways. We look into some of the significant dishes that everyone would relish with.
Salads. Toss them as whole or as sliced into the salads. This adds a luscious color, heat, and flavor.
Pickled. The thick chunky texture makes it an excellent pickling ingredient. You may get in the jars from the stores, you may make it at home. Pickling recipe is simple and easy, and to your surprise it just tastes like its counterpart from the stores.
Stuffed. The inner part of this cherry pepper is dense, hence core them before stuffing. Stuffed cherry pepper tastes excellent and good to serve as finger food in a party.
Salsa. An aromatic addition makes the salsa taste delicious. And you will regret not trying this combo all these days.
How to store?
Do you got cherry peppers a lot from the farmers market or your backyard garden provided you with a load of cherry peppers? And are you wondering about ways to store them up for the rest of the year? Good news is that there are multiple reliable ways.
As roasted. Roast them in the pan over the stove top. On the other hand, you may also roast them in the oven. Later freeze it to store for up to six months.
As frozen. This pepper stays good when frozen as well. Store them as pitted or as whole. Either way works.
By pickling. Another traditional way of storing the peppers. This lasts longer, but needs proper technique.
By drying. An easy method of all.
Where can I find cherry peppers?
These are available in the farmers market or the leading grocery stores. I often find my cherry peppers in our local Wegmans store. You may also get them as canned or as pickled. Provolone stuffed cherry peppers are my favorite online store product.
Do check your pickle aisles in your grocery store, in the salad bar, or in the canned produce sections. It may be pickled as a whole pepper or may be as cherry pepper poppers.
The sliced and pickled peppers are ready to toss them in the salad or over the burgers. Whereas, you may use the whole peppers for making a quick stuffed snack.
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