Hawaiian Chili Pepper

Are you fond of peppers?

Well, it turns out that these popular spices come in other varieties that you may not know yet.

One of these is the famous Hawaiian Chili Pepper, which most Hawaiians love to use on their foods.

So, what is Hawaiian chili pepper?

Hawaiian chili peppers are small chilis that can grow up to an inch long. It grows on a large bush that can reach up to four feet at most.

They are characterized by bright red color and are in-demand throughout the year. Often, these minute peppers are somewhat small but terrible since its Scoville Heat Scale can reach up to 200,000 SHU. That is super hot!

Description

As mentioned, Hawaiian chili peppers are small with elongated pods and cone-like shapes. If you cut it open, the flesh is crisp and pale red with cream-colored seeds.

Taste

Besides the immense spicy flavor, Hawaiian chile peppers are also salty and savory, creating an exquisite taste mixture when mixed with food.

Nutritional Value

Hawaiian chili peppers are rich in vitamins C and A.

These are known as powerful antioxidants that help boost the immune system, improve skin appearance, and build collagen.

Despite its spicy taste, it also a high amount of capsaicin, a compound that triggers pain receptors in the body. This makes us feel a burning sensation.

This compound also has anti-inflammatory properties, which cause the body to release endorphins to help us fight pain.

Uses

Hawaiian chili peppers are usually used for raw and cooked foods, especially in roasting, simmering, and stir-frying.

If you are fond of sauces, you can also use this as the main ingredient for your hot chili sauce or paste. You can use this as a seasoning for your salsa, kimchi, tacos, stews, and other dishes and soups.

In Hawaii, this pepper is commonly used as a substitute in any spicy dish, especially for lau lau - meat wrapped in taro, ti leaves, and poke, with pipikaula - dried beef mostly similar to jerky.

Bonus Recipe

If you are a native Hawaiian, you know by heart what chili pepper water or "fire water" is.

It is a spicy sauce used as a condiment on everything, even in cocktails. The common ingredients used are garlic, Hawaiian chili peppers, salt, and water. Store it in a clean jar and be kept in the darkroom. Ferment it for a month. After this, you can now use it.

Here is a comprehensive list of ingredients and steps to follow:

Ingredients

• 15 each Hawaiian chili peppers, sliced
• 8 ounces water
• 2 ounces white vinegar
• One teaspoon Hawaiian sea salt
• Two cloves of garlic, crushed
• Two fresh ginger slices
• 1 ounce Ogo seaweed

Procedures and Storage

• Add the ingredients to a small pot and wait for it to boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes.
• Let it cool and transfer to a sterilized bottle.
• You can opt to use it after five days but fermenting it for a month or more is the best.
• When stored properly, it could last for a year.