From brisket to cheese burgers and even maple and vintage cheddar sausage, jalapenos are becoming a featured ingredient amongst many talented butchers.
The vibrant red or green peppers which are renowned for their zesty flavours have carved a permanent place in the hearts of culinary enthusiasts. They strike a perfect balance between moderate heat and a subtle sweetness, making them a favourite ingredient in diverse cuisines worldwide.
Most people have heard of or eaten jalapenos. What’s interesting is the overall reputation of this mild pepper is that many people categorise it as a very spicy hot pepper.
However, the reality is that in terms of the Scoville Scale, the jalapeno is only ranked as mild to moderate with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating that ranges between 2,500 to 8,000.
That is quite low compared to the hottest peppers in the world, some of which top the 1,000,000 SHU mark on the heat scale. Jalapenos are also milder than pantry staple cayenne peppers which range from 30,000 to 50,000 on the SHU.
The mild nature of the jalapeno is a perfect recipe addition to please many customers. However butchers must be wary when advertising the dish as ‘Hot!’ or ‘Spicy!’ as it could leave those customers, who are looking for an extremely spicy dish, disappointed by the lower heat and flavour. The best option is to label it as ‘Mild Spice’.
Jalapenos are versatile and able to be incorporated into many different dishes and value-added products, raw or cooked. Below are a few ways to spice up a customers’ palate with the iconic jalapeno, a flavourful companion that has earned its spicy stripes in the world of gastronomy.
Add a smoky pepper zing to beef or lamb sausages and burgers by smoking the jalapenos for an hour on low heat to soften the peppers just enough to mash them up before adding them to a mixture or simply dice or slice the jalapenos and add them to the product.
Jalapenos are also a fantastic ingredient to add into store-made sauces. From smoky chipotle style sauces to salsas and pickles, jalapenos add a tantalizing kick, elevating the culinary experience with their versatile and unmistakable taste.