So you bought a package of little green Padron peppers and are wondering what to do with them. I am excited to share some tasty Padron pepper recipes. Which will you try first?
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Have you tried Padron peppers? They are my new favorite little bit-sized peppers to cook. These peppers can be a bit unpredictable. They are said to be mild, with one in ten spicy peppers, but I recently bought a basket of Padron peppers, and every one was hot. It is a gamble, but if you love spice, I highly encourage you to try these little peppers!
Join me as I show you how to roast Padron peppers and create a simple, easy Padron peppers recipe. If you love peppers as much as we do, check out some of my popular gluten free shishito pepper recipes! Shishito peppers are considered mild for those who don’t want to be too spicy.
Where To Find Padron Peppers?
Padron peppers can be tricky to find in some parts of the country, but they are very easy to grow! You can find Padron peppers in the farmer’s markets now, but if you have a small ethnic market nearby, you may be lucky enough to find them all year round!
These bright green peppers are not big! These peppers are only two inches long and can come in either green or yellow colors. They are mostly mild, but watch out for that rare 10% that have a spicy kick!
You know me, I LOVE peppers. If you love peppers too, check out my popular Hatch Green Chile Pepper recipes while you are here on the blog.
Pimientos de Padron
Did this fancy title fool you? Padron peppers are originally from Spain but are also grown in Mexico and the United States. You can find Spanish peppers on menus in tapas restaurants and used in all sorts of fun pepper recipes all over Spain.
When Are Padron Peppers In Season?
You may be wondering when Padron peppers are in season. Their typical growing season is from May to September. This is a common pepper growing season time frame.
Ways To Cook Padron Peppers:
- Cook your peppers in a special grill basket on a grill. (The grill basket is shown above. Note that those are shishito peppers cooking in the grill basket.) This grill basket will prevent the peppers from falling between the grills.
- Blister the peppers with garlic and oil over high heat in a cast-iron pan. (Pictured below this list.) This is my favorite way to enjoy these peppers!
- Cut the peppers and cook them in a recipe. I don’t do this as often, but it helps cook their flavor into your recipe. I share a few easy recipes below for you to try.
- Roast these peppers in your air fryer! Air fryer Padron peppers are so easy to make! Toss them in garlic and oil and roast them for 8-10 minutes at 400º F. Be sure to stir them midway so you get both sides roasted the same amount.
- Slice them down the middle and put a small block of cheese inside the peppers. Bake them for 10-15 minutes at 400º F.
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I recommend blistering peppers in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Cast iron pans can get hot, which helps blister the peppers’ skin. Blistering adds a caramelized flavor to the peppers; it is totally worth it!
Can You Eat Padron Pepper Seeds?
The answer to this question is yes, you can. It is smart to ask this question because many peppers, like jalapeños seeds, are HOT! You don’t have to worry about this with Padron peppers.
I can’t wait to share my second favorite way to eat these peppers! (The first way was blistered. I love to pop them in my mouth!
Grab your favorite hummus and crackers. (I love to use hummus with roasted red peppers. This is similar, but with a kick of spice.)
- Top your gluten free crackers with hummus.
- Add a blistered pepper on top. You probably won’t want to eat the stems, so go ahead and remove those. I left them on for the pictures because they looked pretty :-).
- Pop the whole thing into your mouth! This appetizer goes really well with beer!
Can’t Find Padron Peppers? Try These Padron Pepper Substitutes:
- Blistered Shishito Peppers with Garlic
- Stuffed Pasilla Peppers
- Chilled Shishito Pepper Soup
- Hatch Green Chiles
This appetizer is easy to make in under 15 minutes, and it is perfect for a party or game day celebration! This post was updated from an older July 2018 post with more information.
Tools Needed:
- A good 12-inch cast iron skillet.
- Or, you can use a grill basket and cook these on your grill.
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Blistered Padron Peppers and Garlic
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat a cast-iron skillet on medium heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon avocado oil and 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add 1/2 pound padron peppers and cook, stirring frequently, until the skin starts to blister.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- You can also blister these padrone peppers on a grill.
- These peppers will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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I just found your web-page and I am dying to try your recipes as I grow my own peppers. Padrone, Shishido, Pathfinder, Buffy, Trident, Arbol, Arapaho, and several more. I make my own salsas and HOT! sauces. Unfortunately my wife has a boring palate and does not share my love for SPICE/HOT! Maybe she will enjoy some of your recipes if I use a milder pepper. I am really looking forward to trying these in a few weeks when the harvest is in as it is now just the end of August here on the South Coast of Oregon.
LOL, I love spicy peppers. My husband likes a medium spice, but neither of my kids will eat anything spicy. I haven’t heard of some of the peppers you grown, but I love the idea of using less known peppers. Thank you so much, and I hope you find a recipe and mild pepper combo your wife will love.
Hey there folks you might try growing your own peppers at home. Two plants may offer all the peppers you might want. Remember to pick them when they are no bigger than your thumb. Oh by the if you keep picking they keep replacing those little darlings.
I love the idea of growing our own peppers. What do you like to make with padron peppers?