A pepper by any other name would taste as bold, right? Not quite. When fresh, ripe peppers are dried, the drying process fundamentally changes their flavor and texture. And with the pepper experience shifting so drastically from fresh to dried, to differentiate fresh peppers, they often go by one name, while their dried counterparts go by another. A great example is the poblano, with its bright, earthy and vegetal flavors. When it’s dried, it becomes an ancho pepper, whose flavors take on richer, smoky and slightly sweet notes.
With so many peppers, it can be hard to keep these names and flavors straight, so we’ve put together an easy reference chart to help.
Don’t get caught in a pepper pinch, keep this reference chart handy. Click to download your copy.
Peppers Are Heating Up Menus Across Segments
Whether it’s dried or fresh, we’re seeing more and more pepper-forward dishes across menus and operational segments, with penetration being especially high in full-service restaurants like casual dining and midscale restaurants.1
The versatility and vibrancy of pepper lends itself to a variety of applications. It’s an exciting way to add boldness to your brunch menu or feature some spice in your C&U’s dining hall. For inspiration, we’ve plated up some of our favorite pepper-perfect dishes that deliver all the big flavor with none of the pepper burn, thanks to a variety of easy-to-use MegaMex Foodservice products.
SHAKSHUKA
Featuring Poblano Peppers and Chile de Arbol
Simmering eggs in HERDEZ® Quemada Charred Salsa Verde and Quemada Charred Salsa Poblano creates an unexpected take on a traditional dish. The poblano peppers in the salsa deliver a mild yet bright and complex flavor that is sure to wow breakfast diners.
CARNE ASADA NACHO
Featuring Jalapeño Peppers
These crowd pleasing nachos pack in the pepper flavor, featuring jalapeños two ways. Top tortilla chips with beans, cheese, onions and tender carne asada. Then add some flavorful heat with LA VICTORIA® Thick’N Chunky Salsa, which contains jalapeños, and WHOLLY® GUACAMOLE Jalapeño Garlic Guacamole.
Mexican Street Corn Burger
Featuring Chipotle Peppers
Add some spice between those buns. Top your next burger LTO with HERDEZ® Chipotle Mexican-Style Street Corn. The smokey chipotle notes are a delicious juxtaposition to the cool and tangy flavors of the mayonnaise, lime and cotija cheese.
Chipotle Brownies A La Mode
Featuring Chipotle Peppers
Peppers in dessert? Why not! Add a squeeze of TRES COCINAS® Chipotle with Adobo Authentic Pepper Paste to your brownie batter for a spicy-sweet signature. Serve warm with ice cream for the perfect balance of cool, sweet and smoky heat.
Looking to wow your diners with bold, memorable flavors? Partner with us and we can help make it a little easier. All MegaMex Foods ingredients are thoughtfully crafted to save you time and labor without sacrificing quality.
1 Technomic Ignite Menu national food trends data, Q4 2023-Q4 2024
