Top 4 Local Vegetables
in Central Mexico

Ancho is the dried version of ripe poblano chile peppers. The peppers are dried for preservation purposes, and when ground, they can be used in spice rubs, moles, soups, salsas, and enchilada sauces. In their dried form, the heart-shaped ancho chiles have a wrinkled skin and a deep red color, their flavor is smoky, sweet, and reminiscent of plums and raisins, while the heat level ranges from mild to medium.Expand

Poblano is a fresh hot pepper variety originating from Mexico. These peppers are dark green in color, and when fully ripe, the colors become dark red or brown. The flavors are mild, and the Scoville Heat Unit ranges from 1,000 to 2,000. Poblano peppers are usually roasted and peeled, then canned or frozen. They can also be stuffed in order to make chiles rellenos. The most famous dish prepared with these peppers is probably chiles en nogada, which is especially popular on Mexican Independence Day as it incorporates green, white, and red ingredients. The dried version of these mild peppers is known as Ancho pepper. Expand

Jalapeño is a pepper with Mexican origins, but nowadays it's grown throughout the world due to its unique flavor and a mild level of heat, from 2,500 to 8,000 Scovilles. The name is Spanish for Jalapa or Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, where these peppers were originally grown. The peppers are thick-fleshed, and the color can be green or red, with the red variety being slightly milder and sweeter than the green one. The flavors are moderately hot, bright, and grassy. When roasted, the jalapeños become richer, earthy, and slightly smoky. They can be stuffed, pickled, or used in a variety of dishes. The dried and smoked version of these hot peppers is known as chipotle pepper.Expand

Serrano (meaning of the mountain) is a chili pepper native to Tlaola, located in the Mexican state of Puebla. It is cultivated by a group of women from the Nahua community who grow it on terraces, while a greenhouse is used to grow the seedlings. In an area where most land is owned by men, and women traditionally aren’t involved in commercial processes, these women are essentially restoring an ancient, disappearing native staple. Serrano is small, oblong and pointed in shape, and green in color. The seedlings are planted in the fields between December and January. In April, it is manually harvested – the green ones are immediately sold, while a small number of serranos are left to grow until June, when they turn red. After they have been picked, the peppers are dried in the sun, toasted, then used for consumption or the production of condiments. Serrano chili peppers are extremely spicy and characterized by a smoky flavor. They can be used to season salads, sauces, meat dishes, and savory snacks.Expand