jalapeno

Jalapeno is a variety of vegetable pepper with an original name and unusual taste. This pepper has an average sharpness (from 2500 to 10000 points on the Scoville scale). But depending on the conditions in which it grows, the degree of its burning can be very high.

Jalapeno is a type of chili pepper. It belongs to the genus Capsicum, a type of vegetable Pepper. A plant up to 1 meter long, which ripens from 25 to 35 small peppers weighing about 50 grams, reaching a length of up to 9 cm. The fruits are green, and by the end of the season they turn red.

Mexico is the world leader in the cultivation of jalapeno peppers. Here it can be found with different names: cuaresmeños, chiles gordos or huachinangos. Rich harvests of jalapenos are collected in states such as Veracruz, as well as Chihuahua. In smaller volumes, it is cultivated in several other places: the state of Jalisco and Chiapas, the state of Nayarit, Sonora and Sinaloa. By the end of the last century, the Americans also took up the cultivation of this pepper, allocating a space of 22 square meters for this purpose. km, the key areas of which are the western region of Texas and the southern part of New Mexico.

Jalapeno peppers take 2 to 3 months to fully mature. Harvesting begins when the pods turn green. The reddening of the pods signifies the end of the season. Red pods have a lower value than green pods.But there is a use for them too: drying, smoking or using as the main ingredient for the preparation of the Mexican chipotle seasoning.

Collection and processing of fresh pods is carried out only with gloves, as contact with the fruit may cause skin irritation. Fresh peppers should be stored in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for no more than two weeks. For long-term storage of jalapeno peppers, you can use the quick freeze method. When dried, it is perfectly stored in a tightly closed glass container and always in a dark place. If necessary, dry fruits can be crushed.

When buying fresh jalapeno peppers, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the pods: they should be even and smooth. Also on sale jalapeno is found in oil and in dried form. Red pods can be purchased dried, pickled, and also prepared as chipotle seasoning.

• when eaten in the oral cavity, a feeling of warmth or strong burning sensation appears;
• the presence of capsaicin in the composition of pepper determines its sharpness;
• in terms of pungency, jalapeno is ahead of the well-known chili pepper;
• the tissue that holds the seeds in the pod is the most pungent part of the pepper. Cleaning the fruit from these tissues will reduce its sharpness and neutralize the sour taste.

Nutritional value of fresh jalapeno, 100g:

In addition, the pepper contains the following components: water - 89 gr.; ash - 4.5 gr.; dietary fiber - 2.6 gr.; saturated fatty acids - 0.1 gr.; unsaturated fatty acids - 0.05 gr.

By eating jalapeno peppers for food, a person receives invaluable help for the body, since it contains a lot of components that are essential for health and well-being, such as: B vitamins, vitamins - A, E, K, C, PP, beta-carotene .

Minerals:

• sodium, potassium, magnesium;
• phosphorus, calcium, copper;
• iron, manganese, zinc, selenium.

As well as other elements:

• sugar;
• essential oils;
• piperidine;
• capsanthin;
• chavicin;
• capsorubin;
• carotene.

The variety of useful substances included in the jalapeno causes a wide range of effects on the human body and its internal processes.

Due to its composition, pepper has the following properties:

• antimicrobial;
• painkiller;
• immuno-strengthening;
• antiviral;
• antidepressant;
• stimulating the process of digestion.

Excessive consumption of jalapeno, like any other hot pepper, in any form can cause gastrointestinal disturbances.

The high content of coarse fiber and essential oil, as well as pungency in taste, are the cause of various complications in the work of the human body. Therefore, the use of jalapeno peppers is contraindicated in the presence of the following health problems:

• gastrointestinal disorders;
• various diseases of the kidneys and liver;
• stomach ulcer;
• allergic reactions and individual intolerance.

Mexicans know a lot about pepper. That is why their cuisine is replete with "hot" dishes, the preparation of which is not complete without various varieties of hot peppers. In Mexico, jalapeno is used as the main ingredient in the traditional onion seasoning, which is a must on any table.The preparation of a wide variety of spices, sauces and snacks is also not complete without its use. And of course, another popular dish of this country is jalapeno stuffed with meat.

Jalapeno has long been an indispensable component of the first and second courses, because it goes well with many types of meat and some types of fish. The famous Mexican dish nachos is a delicious snack consisting of corn chips with various additives, which are served with different types of sauces. Peppers are also used in recipes for stews, salads, and cheese dishes. Residents of some regions have mastered recipes for making jalapeno desserts: jelly, jam, drinks.

Chipotle, a classic Mexican condiment, is made from overripe red jalapenos. For several days, the fruits are smoked on wood smoke. Chipotle is used as an ingredient that improves the taste of various sauces, soups, meat and vegetable dishes.

We suggest you cook one of the popular Mexican snacks according to the following recipe.

To prepare guacamole, you need to chop 50 grams of onions, 4 green tomatoes, 3 fresh jalapeno peppers and 10 grams of cilantro. Then add the juice of one lime and puree the resulting mixture in a blender.

You will also need 5 peeled, pitted avocados. They must be cut into large pieces and sprinkled with lime juice to avoid browning. Next, the avocado is mixed with cooked vegetable puree. Salt and pepper are added to taste. In order for the salad to acquire a richer aroma and taste, it is necessary to cover it with a lid and leave it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

You can learn more about jalapeno pepper from the following video.

The use of fresh jalapeno peppers, as well as in the form of tinctures, is successfully used to improve the general condition of the body and get rid of various ailments. Its healing properties are effective for:

• prevention of cardiovascular diseases;
• lowering cholesterol in the blood;
• protect body cells from the action of toxins;
• acceleration of metabolism;
• improving the functioning of the digestive system;
• blood thinning and lowering high blood pressure;
• stimulating the process of digestion and improving appetite;
• normalization of intestinal microflora;
• strengthening the walls of blood vessels;
• stimulating the production of endorphins, which positively affect mood and increase stress resistance;
• fight insomnia;
• improvement of vision;
• maintaining healthy skin and hair.

In Mexico, you can find several varieties of jalapenos that differ from each other in the appearance of the pods. The peludo variety has long thick pods, espinalteco produces pointed fruits, and morita is elongated and short.

When growing jalapeno peppers, a number of mandatory rules must be observed at all stages: from the moment the seeds are planted to the harvest.

For sowing seeds, it is convenient to use a tray with a lid. Seeds are planted to the required depth and covered with a small amount of soil, and the tray can be closed with a lid.

When sprouts appear, the tray opens and moves to the windowsill from the south. Regular watering must be continued.For even vertical growth of plants, the tray periodically turns in the right direction.

When 2-4 leaves appear, the seedlings dive, and the plants are transplanted into larger pots. As the seedlings grow, the volume of the pots should increase, since fruiting directly depends on this.

15-20 days after the last frost, the plants are planted in open ground, the temperature of which should be from 15 ºС and above. For landing, you need a site illuminated by the sun for at least 6 hours a day.

Seedlings are planted in holes twice the size of the pots. Optimum planting depth is achieved when the soil is at leaf level. The distance between plants should be at least 30 centimeters, and the rows should be located at a distance of 60 centimeters from each other.

During the vegetative stage, fertilizers are used in which the nitrogen content is higher and the phosphorus content is lower. When flowering, on the contrary, there should be less nitrogen and more phosphorus. 14 days before harvesting, it is necessary to wash the fertilizers with a strong jet of water and a special solution that removes salts from the soil.

Regular watering and the absence of weeds will ensure good pepper growth. 20 days after planting, mulching is performed. If the pepper bushes have become large, then it is advisable for them to build a support.

Harvested after an average of three months. Pods that are green in color and have a very pungent taste are considered ripe. Ripe pepper easily breaks off the branch. Brown lines that look like stretch marks are also a signal that the crop needs to be harvested.To make the pepper sweeter, you can leave it on until the pods are completely red, which are great for drying.

The climate of temperate latitudes allows growing jalapenos only in closed greenhouses and greenhouses. Also, pepper can grow in residential apartments. Jalapeno is a perennial plant with a pronounced period of winter dormancy. In the cool season, the plant should be kept indoors at a temperature of 16 to 20 ° C. In summer - at a temperature of about 25 ° C. Jalapeno loves light and moisture. Their absence in the required amount leads to the fall of flowers and fruits. However, over-watering can be detrimental to this plant, as it can cause root rot.

In 1982, American astronauts took a green jalapeno on a space flight, as this pepper is one of the most popular in the United States. That is why jalapeno is the first pepper to go into space as a favorite condiment of American astronauts.