While internet craze and online trends may have taken the interest in chilies and peppers to the next level, there is no doubt that these fruity little spice bombs have always been an important staple in most cuisines across the globe. Many people love the daring kick and punch that a good chili provides, since the spiciness adds a new dimension to any given meal. It enhances the color, adds to the flavor, and makes the dish so much richer and complex. But a chili does not necessarily have to be the hottest thing on the planet to be flavorful. One prime example is the Italian Long Hot. Most typical Long Hots are mild, sweeter peppers that have a rating ranging between 100 to 1000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale, though they can approach 5,000 SHU, depending on where you obtain them. They are green in their younger stages and ripen to a bright red shade as they mature and fully develop their flavor, with striations and mixed hues as they develop. They can be used either green or red to achieve flavorful yet not overly spicy foods. The flavor of Italian Long Hot becomes even bolder when they are smoked and roasted. Since the outer membranes and skin of the Italian Long Hots are super thin, they can be easily charred or lightly fried to bring out a delicious sweetness and smokiness. They serve to add a bit of fresh bite and crunch. They can be added to sauces, marinades, pastas, and salsas in chopped and pureed forms. When added to meals during cooking, they are incorporated whole, with the skin and the seeds included. Their mild spice levels and sweet flavor also allows them to be used in large quantities in sides, salads, and appetizers. While they would taste delicious stuffed, their thin bodies and walls do not have enough capacity or structural integrity to withstand filling.
What Do Italian Long Hots Taste Like?
Italian Long Hots have a unique taste that is different from most chili peppers. They are sweet and tangy, having a rich and complex flavor profile that is accentuated by very mild undertones of spice. The spice level varies from pepper to pepper, going from sweet, barely spicy to mild spice. In the United States, Italian Long Hots are particularly popular in the Northeast region, particularly Philadelphia. You can, however, find them with little difficulty in other states as well. You can also get seeds for the Italian Long Hot plant and grow it in your own home. They are relatively easy to grow in home environments as they do not need a lot of water. All you need to do is make sure they get ample amounts of sunshine. They can also be substituted by cubanelle peppers or the pepperoncini to achieve similar levels of spiciness and tanginess. Another substitute for Long Hots is Anaheim peppers.
