13 Heirloom Peppers With Mild Heat and Great Garden Aroma

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Bulgarian Carrot Pepper

The Bulgarian Carrot pepper is known for its long, orange appearance and a mild heat that makes it a great addition to many dishes. The pepper’s scent is earthy and slightly floral, often evoking the feeling of walking through a well-kept garden. With a Scoville rating that ranges between 1,000 and 3,000 SHU, it adds a subtle warmth without overpowering the flavors of the meal.

This variety is highly valued for its crisp texture and mild taste, which pairs well in salads or salsas. The Bulgarian Carrot pepper is also ideal for roasting or grilling, where its sweetness becomes more pronounced. Its size allows it to be easily stuffed, making it a popular choice for a variety of culinary applications. Additionally, it’s known for its productive nature, often yielding a good harvest in garden spaces.

Jimmy Nardello

This heirloom pepper is often considered a favorite for those seeking mild heat with a strong garden scent. The Jimmy Nardello pepper features thin, red fruits that are long and slightly curved. With a Scoville rating of around 500 SHU, its heat is gentle, making it perfect for those who enjoy flavor without the intense spiciness. Its fragrance has a rich, almost fruity quality that blends beautifully with its natural sweetness.

Traditionally, this pepper is ideal for frying and creating flavorful dishes that need a mild pepper with a great aroma. It’s also an excellent choice for those interested in preserving peppers through drying, as its flavor intensifies when air-dried. This pepper’s mild heat and unique scent make it a perfect garden-to-table option.

Anahiem Pepper

The Anahiem pepper is widely appreciated for its light heat and delightful, grassy aroma. Typically green when harvested, it turns a bright red as it ripens, intensifying its rich garden fragrance. Its heat level ranges between 500 and 2,500 SHU, offering a smooth heat that enhances dishes without overwhelming the palate.

This pepper is most often used in salsas, sauces, or grilled, where its light spiciness and vibrant fragrance can truly shine. It is an excellent choice for stuffing, often paired with cheese or meats to bring out the subtle smoky flavor. The Anahiem pepper has become a staple in many kitchens due to its versatility and approachable heat. Its generous yield makes it a favorite for gardeners looking to produce peppers throughout the growing season.

Padrón Pepper

The Padrón pepper is known for its small size and mild heat, which varies slightly from pepper to pepper. These peppers are green when picked, though they can ripen to a red shade if left on the plant longer. The heat level ranges from mild to occasionally hot, making it a fun pepper to add to any dish as the surprise factor gives it character.

It has a distinctive, fresh aroma that’s often described as herbal with hints of green grass. These peppers are commonly sautéed in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, where their natural sweetness can be fully appreciated. The Padrón pepper’s moderate heat and pleasant fragrance make it a garden favorite, particularly in Spanish cuisine. It is typically harvested while still small, just before they reach their red coloring, to ensure the best flavor.

Cherry Bomb Pepper

The Cherry Bomb pepper is a small, round, and fiery variety that packs a punch despite its size. The pepper’s skin is smooth and shiny, transitioning from green to bright red as it ripens. With a Scoville rating of 5,000 to 10,000 SHU, it offers a medium level of heat, perfect for adding a little kick to your dishes.

Its fragrance is strong and slightly smoky, with an earthy sweetness that balances out its heat. This pepper is often used in pickling, where its heat and flavor can develop over time. It is also ideal for making homemade hot sauces or salsas that need both heat and an appealing fragrance. The Cherry Bomb pepper is well-suited for small garden spaces, thanks to its compact size and high yield.

Fish Pepper

A unique heirloom variety with a storied history, the Fish pepper offers a distinct flavor profile and aroma. It is often recognized for its variegated foliage, with leaves that are striped with white, yellow, and green. The pepper itself is small, transitioning from green to yellow and eventually to red when fully ripe.

It has a Scoville rating of 5,000 to 10,000 SHU, giving it a medium heat level that is perfect for seasoning fish and seafood dishes, where its fragrance blends with the flavors of the ocean. Fish peppers have an earthy, floral scent that adds a garden-fresh quality to any meal. This pepper variety is often associated with African American heritage and Southern cuisine. Its mild heat and distinctive aroma make it a great choice for those looking to add a bit of tradition to their garden.

Guero Chile

The Guero Chile is a mild to medium heat pepper that offers a refreshing, light fragrance reminiscent of freshly tilled soil. The fruit is typically pale yellow to light green, offering a pleasant mild spiciness with hints of sweetness. With a Scoville rating between 500 and 3,000 SHU, it provides just enough warmth to liven up a dish without overwhelming the flavors.

The Guero Chile is commonly used in Mexican cuisine, especially in salsas and sauces, where its aroma blends well with the other fresh ingredients. It is also favored for roasting, which brings out its full, complex flavor profile. This variety thrives in the garden and produces peppers throughout the summer, making it a reliable choice for home gardeners. Its gentle heat and garden-like scent make it a must-have for any cook who enjoys fresh peppers.

Santa Fe Grande

Santa Fe Grande is a bright, tangy pepper that is often picked while still yellow but ripens to red when left on the plant. This pepper offers a heat level ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 SHU, providing a comfortable level of warmth that enhances dishes without being too overwhelming. Its fragrance has a slightly floral and grassy quality, with a noticeable sweetness that adds depth to its flavor.

The Santa Fe Grande is typically used for pickling or roasting, where its mild heat and aromatic qualities can shine. It is also ideal for use in chutneys, salsas, and even as a garnish for various dishes. This pepper is relatively easy to grow, producing a significant yield even in smaller garden spaces. Its unique scent and gentle heat make it a standout in any garden.

The Yellow Wax pepper is a vibrant, medium-heat pepper that adds a lovely fragrance to any garden. With a Scoville rating between 5,000 and 10,000 SHU, it provides a mild to medium heat that is perfect for those who enjoy flavor without the intensity of hot peppers. These peppers are often used in pickling due to their distinct color and aroma.

The fragrance is fresh and slightly tangy, with earthy notes that make it a wonderful addition to salsas and sauces. Yellow Wax peppers are also ideal for stuffing and grilling, where their heat and flavor develop further. Their unique yellow color and mild heat make them a favorite in culinary circles, particularly for adding a pop of color and flavor to dishes. This pepper grows well in most climates and produces a bountiful harvest.

Corno di Toro

The Corno di Toro, or “Horn of the Bull,” is an heirloom pepper known for its gentle heat and sweet flavor. Shaped like a long horn, it is often harvested when it is red but can also be used while still green. The pepper has a Scoville rating between 1,000 and 5,000 SHU, providing a mild to moderate heat that does not overpower the dish.

Its fragrance is sweet, almost fruity, with a floral note that enhances its savory qualities. The Corno di Toro is perfect for roasting or grilling, as it caramelizes beautifully and deepens in flavor. It is a popular choice for Mediterranean cuisine, particularly in dishes like pasta or pizza. This pepper thrives in warm climates and is easy to grow, offering an abundant yield throughout the growing season.

Cascabel Pepper

The Cascabel pepper is a small, round chili with a moderate heat level and a smoky, earthy aroma. With a Scoville rating of 1,500 to 3,000 SHU, it provides a balanced heat that is perfect for adding depth to sauces or stews without overwhelming the other flavors. The pepper’s distinctive shape, which resembles a rattlesnake’s rattle, contributes to its unique character.

Its rich, smoky scent gives dishes a rustic feel, making it a favorite in Mexican and southwestern cuisine. Cascabel peppers are typically used dried, where their flavor intensifies, making them ideal for making mole or chili powder. This pepper is highly productive and thrives in warmer climates, where it can grow well even in containers. Its gentle heat and complex fragrance make it a must-have for those looking to experiment with flavors.

Shishito Pepper

The Shishito pepper is a small, green pepper that is known for its mild heat, with a Scoville rating ranging from 100 to 1,000 SHU. The pepper’s scent is fresh, with a hint of floral and grassy notes, making it a delightful addition to any garden. Shishito peppers are often harvested while still green, and they have a thin skin that makes them perfect for grilling or sautéing.

When cooked, they develop a sweet and smoky flavor, with just a touch of heat that lingers. They are a popular snack in Japan, often served as an appetizer with salt or soy sauce. The Shishito pepper is a reliable plant that produces an abundant yield, making it a great choice for both home gardeners and culinary enthusiasts. Its mild heat and appealing fragrance make it a standout in any dish.

Aleppo Pepper

The Aleppo pepper is a medium-heat variety with a rich, smoky flavor and a slightly tangy aroma. With a Scoville rating of 10,000 to 23,000 SHU, it offers a moderate heat that is often described as fruity and flavorful. The Aleppo pepper is commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, where its warm fragrance enhances dishes like kebabs, stews, and sauces.

It is typically dried and crushed, where its deep red color and mild heat make it an excellent addition to spice blends. The Aleppo pepper is known for its balanced heat, which does not overwhelm the dish but rather complements the other flavors. It is a popular choice for gardeners looking to add a little heat and fragrance to their garden. This pepper thrives in hot climates and produces a generous yield.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.