Any person who is a fun of making homemade foods will go out researching for additional spices. This is in order to add flavor to the food and besides improve the appetite. Among the spices in many countries are the peppers, which could be hot pepper or moderately cool.
Depending on the class of people you are making the food for, they will enjoy the delicacies if the food is prepared as per their taste.
Serrano vs Jalapeno are both types of peppers. In most cases, one may end up confusing them because of their look-alike nature, but they vary in different ways. We are going to discuss each one of them to be able to understand them better.
Serrano Pepper
Serrano pepper is a chili pepper whose origin is in the mountainous region of Mexico. They are found in the States of Hidalgo and Puebla. It is similar to jalapeno pepper when looking at it, though much hotter in taste. It is green in color, and its size is roughly 2 inches.
When it comes to the Scoville heat index, the serrano pepper ranges between 10,000 and 25,000.
When unripe, they are green in color, but as they get to ripen, the color changes from green to different shades, which could be yellow, red, orange, and brown.
In most cases, the serrano pepper is used to add heat to Salads and sauces. Depending on the user, one can prepare the sauce with or without the seeds.
But before adding it to the sauces, it is important to roast to extract its maximum heat.
It is considered that they are of the same family as Jalapeno despite its increased hotness. However, people still love eating it raw. It’s considered one of the hottest but most flavored peppers in the market, which has continued to increase its popularity.
Jalapeno Pepper
Jalapeno pepper, on the other hand, is a medium-sized chili pepper whose size is between 5-10 cm (2 – 4 inches) long. It hangs down when fresh, and its width is between 25-38 mm. Its Scoville heat unit ranges between 3,500 to 3,600 units, which means that it is not as hot as Serrano.
They are also grown in Mexico, but the part of its larger family is found in the United States. When unripe, they are green, but as they continue to ripen, the color changes to different shades, which could be orange, yellow, or red.
They are less hot that the Serrano, though they still are an excellent pepper spice that can be used in a broader recipe.
One can use Jalapeno for a substitute of Serrano, though, you will have to use more of them than if you were to use Serrano. It’s noted that one Serrano is seven to eight times hotter than Jalapeno. As such, it’s essential to use an equivalent of Jalapeno pepper while supplementing Serrano.
Similarities between Serrano vs Jalapeno
It’s worth noting that each of the peppers is from the same species, namely Capsicum annum, which gives heat and spice. It is found in the pith and the seeds of the pepper.
Both of the peppers have the same health benefits, with low calories of about 35. They both contain Vitamin A, B6, and C. Moreover, they also have iron and magnesium components and are a good source when it comes to dietary fiber (see more the comparison table below). They cannot be ignored for their antioxidant qualities. People taking them will enjoy such kinds of health benefits.
They end up improving the functionality of the heart and the entire immune system
When it comes to the type of recipes being used, it’s interesting to note that either of these peppers can be used interchangeably in a wide variety of recipes. For instance, if one wishes to have a very hot dinner dish, Serrano will do well, but on the other hand, Jalapeno can be used when one wants a less mild recipe.
However, alert your guests on how hot the spice is before serving them to avoid disappointments. Among the recipes that come out unusually include the Salsa, guacamole, hot sauce, or even rice. The delicacy will be one of the best for the lovers of spices.
Differences between Serrano vs Jalapeno
In as much as both peppers are a look-alike and most of the health benefits are the same, there still exist some differences. These are elaborated here below
- Size: Serrano is a bit thinner with a size of 2 inches while Jalapeno goes for between 5-10 cm (2 – 4 inches) long.
- Heat: Serrano is hotter than Jalapeno by a wide margin of between 10,000-25,000, while Jalapeno’s heat ranges between 3,500 to 3,600. This means that while using Jalapeno as a supplement to Serrano, you will have to add a number of them to reach the heat of Serrano.
- Places of Origin: As the name suggests, Serrano comes from a Spanish name Sierra or mountain range. It grows in the mountainous side of the Mexican States, namely Hidalgo and Puebla. On the contrary, Jalapeno is grown in Jalapa, the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz. They are more preferred to be eaten where roasted as compared to Serrano, which is a favorite dish when eaten raw.
Serrano Vs Jalapeno Comparison
With these factors in mind, there is a need to ask yourself several questions when making your delicacies as you use them. Some of these questions could revolve around the type of food, the number of people, and the like.
- The level of your heat tolerance: If you are not a person of very hot pepper, then Serrano will not be suitable for you. Use Jalapeno instead.
- The type of food: If preparing food that could look great with large sized pepper, then Jalapeno could be the best choice. This is because it’s not very hot, and one can accommodate its heat with ease while eating it raw.
On the other hand, Serrano could work out perfectly for very hot salads and spicier when tomatoes are added.
There is an excellent opportunity to use these peppers depending on one’s taste buds. It all depends on how best you love different types of pepper.
