We aren't talking about that red stew favored by Texans (that's chili). Nor is this lens devoted to that skinny nation on the left coast of South America (although it's impressive for any ingredient to have a country named after it). No, this is chile -- genus capsicum -- which livens your meal, quickens your pulse and demands respect.
Chile Tip of the Moment
So what's the hottest part of a chile? The popular answer is the seeds, but that is incorrect. The hottest part is the membrane -- the white tissue on the interior wall of the chile. The seeds have no heat of their own, but since they touch this membrane, they are the second hottest part. If you want chile flavor without so much heat, remove what you can of the membrane prior to cooking.
Chiles in the Garden
- Chile Pepper Institute
- An amazing repository of chile research, knowledge and everyday tips are available through this New Mexico State University site.
- GardenWeb's Chile Pepper forum
- An outstanding resource for newbies to master gardeners, all dedicated to the peculiar requirements of chiles.
- Chile Peppers in Legend & Lore
- Author Dave DeWitt explores in depth the mysterious beliefs in chile folklore.
Chiles on the Table
- The Scoville Scale
- How hot is it? Dr. Scoville did the research to figure that out. From the Bell Pepper (0 s.u.) to the Yellow Habanero (210,000 s.u.), this chart tells you how much or how little to toss down the hatch.
- Chile Varieties
- An extensive Web-based list of every chile type, description and heat level.
- Chile Pepper Magazine
- The pre-eminent magazine devoted wholly to the chile. Amazing recipes.
Books about Chiles
The Great Chile Book
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/25/2009) 
Green Chile Bible: Award-Winning New Mexico Recipes
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 11/25/2009)
The Red Chile Bible: Southwestern Classic & Gourmet Recipes
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 11/25/2009)
On The Chile Trail: 100 Great Recipes from Across America
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
The Chile Chronicles: Tales of a New Mexico Harvest
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
Feast of Santa Fe: Cooking of the American Southwest
Amazon Price: $22.18 (as of 11/25/2009)
by Jon_Gabriel
specializes in marketing (especially word of mouth), graphic design & communication. I also obsess over indie music and train to become Iron Chef... (more)
Explore related pages
Ramen Noodles is the Best College Food- Ramen can be had for mere pennies ($.15/each here), and with each package you ge...
Paperfacet's Squidoo Lensography- I have been putting off starting this lens. There is enough lenses to put in it...
Salsa and Sauces Recipes- This lens has the really good stuff, salsas and sauces. Salsas are a very versat...
Food of Mexico- Most of today's Mexican food is based on ancient traditions, such as the Aztecs...
Recipes Using Hot Peppers!- Here you will find many great recipes using hot peppers. There will be entrees,...
Dining Disney Style!- When you're on vacation, eating is a big part of the fun! And Disney World is fu...
