Why I like it:
Calabrian peppers are a medium spicy pepper grown in southern Italy. Why I like them is because of two reasons. First, is their unique smokey, fruity flavor profile with just the right amount of spice. It’s more than a jalapeno but less than a really spicy pepper like a habanero. And the other reason is because it makes such a great pantry item to have on hand because it comes in a jar, and you can keep in your fridge for a very long time once it’s opened. When it comes to hosting dinner parties you want to have as many ingredients on-hand as you can. Less shopping, more time to cook and enjoy.
How I use it:
I started using these in place of Sriracha when I make a spicy aioli to drizzle over a dish like chicken lettuce wrap tacos, crab cake BLT’s, or seared ahi crispy rice stacks. Anywhere you want to spice it up and give things a kick. Here’s a few ideas:
Where to buy it:
I find it at my local Whole Foods or similar upscale grocery store in the same section as the fancy shelf-stable condiments like pickled carrots, roasted bell peppers, and mustards. You can also find them online at Amazon if you don’t see them locally. I prefer to buy them crushed versus whole because it saves me a step in not having to chop them up.
Calabrian Pepper Aioli:
- 3/4 cup mayonaisse
- 2 tsp Calabrian pepper paste
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For more menu inspirations and recipes check out the following:
