Cascabel, whole

These round, dark red Mexican chillies are great for adding a hint of heat to your dish.  The name literally means ‘rattle’ as the inside seeds make a rattling sound when the dry pods are shaken.  To use, soak the chilli in a little warm water then scrape the inner flesh from the chilli pod. This process will soften the chilli, and also help to release its flavour.  Save the water you have soaked the chillies in – adding this liquid to your dish will give it added flavour and depth.

These chillies are very versatile, and can be used in most recipes where a medium heat is required. They are very good for filling out the flavour of a tomato sauce and have a great affinity with their cousin, the sweet bell pepper.