Serrano Pesto

This chile pepper gets its name from its origin. In Spanish, serrano is an adjective meaning “from the mountains” which is where it originated-in the mountains of Hildalgo, Mexico. The serrano is normally about twice as hot as Jalapeno (about 10,000 to 15,000 Scoville units). It is the second most popular chile pepper in Mexico. This chile is used mostly for salsas but can also be used in soups, sauces, chili or stews. Try these as a hotter substitute for Jalapeno.

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Ingredients:

1/4 cup garlic (about 1 head)
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 cups pine nuts
1 cup fresh cilantro
5 serrano chiles, roasted and diced
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt

Instructions:

Place the garlic, Parmesan and pine nuts into a food processor and puree. Add the cilantro and serrano chiles and puree until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil. Add the salt, scrape down any unmixed ingredients, and process again briefly.