Anaheim Pepper

Anaheim Pepper is a kind of chili pepper with mild heat. Emilio Ortega, a farmer, introduced this particular chili to Anaheim, California; hence the name. It is also known as Magdalena, California peppers or New Mexican chilies. The inhabitants of New Mexico refer to it simply as chilies. The pepper is frequently dried and used in the powdered form to spice up various Mexican and New Mexican dishes. Chile seco del norte is the term used for referring to the dry Anaheim chili.

The peppers are described as moderately hot with their amount of heat ranging from 500 to 2,500 on the Scoville scale. The fresh chilies are usually peeled before use. They are broiled or placed over an oven until the skin blackens. The peppers are kept confined in plastic seals or bags and peeled after cooling. They are generally used to add spice to soups, broths and stews.

Both the immature green form and the red matured form of the chili are used in Mexican cuisine. Chile rellenos is a dish that makes use of Anaheim peppers.

What Is Anaheim Pepper?

The narrow-shaped green-colored chili grown in New Mexico and Texas is known as Anaheim. The color changes to bright red on maturity with the ripened form being used to prepare various dishes of Mexican cuisine. The term California chili is used to refer to the dried form of the pepper, usually. It is found in supermarkets across the United States and Mexico in roasted, canned, and peeled forms.

Culinary Uses of Anaheim Pepper

The peppers are utilized to complement egg and vegetable dishes and are a frequent addition to mild salsas. They are also sprinkled on soups and stews to add flavor and spice. The Anaheim chilies are widely eaten as stuffed peppers across the South Western region of America. Some of the recipes that make use of this particular chili are:-
 

• Chiles Rellenos- It is a form of stuffed chile that is prepared by filling the Anaheim pepper with cheese,  picadillo meat and  canella which are encased in an egg batter or masa corn and fried before serving.  It is usually splattered with tomato sauce before consumption.
   
• Avocado Salsa- A typical salsa dish prepared with diced avocado, roasted Anaheim peppers, and habanero halves.
   
• Monkey Meat- A Mexican dish of shredded beef cooked with a variety of peppers that include roasted Anaheim.

Buying  & Storage Tips For Anaheim Peppers

Good quality peppers have a smooth skin and are light to medium green in color. Wrinkled skin or moldy peppers spoil easily and cannot be preserved for long periods.  Bruised and soft-skinned peppers are also not considered to be fit for consumption.

The peppers are usually roasted and peeled before storing. They can be preserved for as long as a week under refrigeration. Chilled peppers enclosed in airtight freezer bags can be preserved for almost a year.

Trivia

Canned Anaheim Pepper is labeled as ‘green chilies’ in USA.