How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Mely Martínez

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Chiles Toreados are super quick to make when you need to spice up a meal, particularly tacos and grilled meats. It is also an easy recipe since you just need a few ingredients like jalapeños or serrano peppers, oil, lime juice, and salt, which most of you already have in your kitchen.

Chiles Toreados Recipe

How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (1)


Chiles Toreados are sometimes served with salsa bowls at taquerias and steak restaurants in Mexico. Nowadays, cooks will serve Chiles Toreados with a few drops of soy sauce, a tradition that started at Chinese restaurants in Mexico, and later on, it became popular to add other sauces as well, like Worcestershire sauce or Maggi Seasoning sauce.

Chiles Toreados are typically served with spring onions, which are prepared the same way as the peppers. Every cook has his/herown particular way to season and serves them. I always ask for them when I go out for dinner at Tex-Mex restaurants and we order fajitas or grilled chicken. Even if they are not on the menu, you can ask your server about them.I’m sure the cook will be glad to prepare them for you. But to make them at home, here you have the recipe.

How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe

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How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (2)

DIRECTIONS:

How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (3)
  • Gently press down the peppers with your hand or with a spoon, in a rolling movement. This step will release the flavor and heat from the seeds and veins of the peppers.(Please check the ingredients list below)
  • Heat the oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Wait until the oil is hot and add the peppers and let them fry, turning frequently until they form light golden blisters on their skins. In about 4 to 5 minutes they will be ready.
  • Remove them from skillet and place themin a serving bowl; add the lime juice and season with salt. If you want to add soy sauce, sprinkle a few drops to the lime juice and stir before adding it tothe peppers. Serve warm or at room temperature.

To eat the peppers, cut theminto bite-size pieces with a fork and knife in your plate.

How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (4)

¡Buen provecho!
Mely,

So what are your favorite peppers? Do you have a special way to cook them? Share your ideas in the comments section.

More recipes:
Chiles Rellenos de Picadillo
How to Make Spicy Salsa with Serrano Peppers

📖 Recipe

How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (5)

Chiles Toreados Recipe

Mely Martínez

Chiles Toreados are super quick to make when you need to spice up a meal, particularly tacos and grilled meats. It is also an easy recipe since you just need few ingredients like jalapeños or serrano peppers, oil, lime juice and salt, which most of you already have in your kitchen.

4.50 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 6-8 serrano peppers or 4 jalapeños
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons of soy sauce optional

Instructions

  • Gently press down the peppers with your hand or with a spoon, in a rolling movement. This step will release the flavor and heat from the seeds and veins of the peppers.

  • Heat the oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Wait until the oil is hot and add the peppers (and spring onions if using) and let them fry, turning frequently until they form light golden blisters on their skins. (Do not let them burn because they will develop a bitter taste.) In about 4 to 5 minutes they will be ready.

  • Remove them from skillet and place them in a serving bowl; add the lime juice and season with salt. If you want to add soy sauce, sprinkle a few drops to the lime juice and stir before adding it to the peppers (avoid the salt because the soy sauce is already salty). Serve warm or at room temperature.

To eat the peppers, cut them into bite-size pieces with a fork and knife in your plate.

    Notes

    • If you want to add spring onions, add 6 spring onions when preparing the peppers.
    • You can also make a small incision with a sharp knife to the peppers to avoid them from bursting while cooking.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 24kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 112mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 56IUVitamin C: 3mgIron: 1mg

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Eli

      I know you mentioned the soy sauce is optional but does it make a huge difference taste-wise? Will it be tastier with the soy sauce? Or is salt perfect enough?

      Reply

    2. Phyllis

      Any thoughts / ideas on preparing these peppers and preserving for later use? I have a bag full of jalapenos I want to preserve. I've already made a variety of relishes and jellies and want to try something new. Thanks.

      Reply

      • mmartinez

        Hello Phyllis,
        You can pickle them, see link below. You can also roast them and then freeze. But they will lose some of their flavors with the time.
        Pickled Jalapeños

        Reply

    3. Sheri

      I'm going to a party right after work. Can I make these the night before and refrigerate them, then bring them to room temp before serving?

      Reply

      • mmartinez

        Hi Sheri,
        Yes, you can make the chiles toreados ahead of time.

        Reply

    4. Roger Houchin

      How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (10)
      Mely, I love these, and their so good with anything especially enchiladas. going to have to check out your other recipes for -more delicious ideas.

      Reply

      • mmartinez

        Hi Roger,
        Love the idea about adding it to enchiladas as a complement. Happy cooking!

        Reply

    5. Cindy Zellers

      I like to spay jalapeños with cooking spray and roast them in my air fryer at 400 degrees until blackened. So good with tacos or diced and added to a cheese omelette.

      Reply

    6. lucille woods

      Definitely will try this tomorrow morning. I know I will enjoy as your tips and recipes are always fantastic.

      Reply

      • Holly

        Hi Mely,
        Thank you for the recipe and the tip for the proper way to eat the chiles toreados. I can't wait to make these.
        However, I have a question about pressing down on the peppers and rolling them. Does that make them hotter or less hot?

        Reply

        • Mely Martínez

          Hello Holly,
          They will be a little bit spicer.

    7. Velva

      This is an awesome idea! I have a few garden peppers on hand and the other ingredients too! Thanks for sharing.

      Velva

      Reply

      • mmartinez

        Hello Velva,

        Enjoy! I am sure this method enhance any type of peppers. I hope you like them!

        Reply

    How to make Chiles Toreados Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    What is a Torreado? ›

    Chiles toreados, are a popular Mexican side dish made from blistered and seasoned serrano, jalapeño, or guerito (banana) peppers. They are quickly cooked in a hot pan or skillet until the skin blackens and blisters.

    What does Toreados mean in English? ›

    toreado (uncountable, accusative toreadon) The art of bullfighting, or an act thereof.

    How hot is a chile toreado? ›

    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).

    How many types of chili peppers are used in Mexican food? ›

    Jalapeño, Serrano, Poblano, Chipotle, Habanero, and a whole host more are popular in both their fresh and cooked forms in a large variety of Mexican dishes. Each chile serves its purpose and adds flavor and spice to the food providing different heat levels.

    What is a Chile Toreado? ›

    Chiles Toreados, or Mexican blistered peppers, are pan-fried chile peppers seasoned with lime juice, soy sauce, and salt. You'll find this popular side dish served hot or at room temperature in Mexican taquerias on the side for topping on and other dishes.

    What is chile toreado in english? ›

    What are Chiles Toreados? Chiles toreados are chili peppers that are blistered and fried up in a hot pan or on the grill with a bit of oil.

    Who named the jalapeño? ›

    The name jalapeño was given to the pepper by the Spanish. Jalapeño literally “from Xalapa,” which is the capital of Veracruz. Anybody who is fond of Mexican cuisine may be familiar with a dish known as chiles rellenos, which many people see as the original inspiration for jalapeño poppers.

    What is the Spanish word for chilli? ›

    (also: chilli pepper) chile m ⧫ ají m (Southern Cone) ⧫ guindilla f (Spain)

    What is the hardest chili? ›

    The current record holder, declared in 2023, is Pepper X, at more than 2.69 million SHU.

    What is the spiciest Mexican chili? ›

    Habanero, the hottest Mexican chili pepper

    The Scoville scale rated the Habanero chili pepper with a score of 500,000 Shu, the measurement unit of this system. There are many defining variables for the Habanero.

    What is Mexico's main meal of the day called? ›

    The most important meal of the day is lunch (comida) and normally served between 1 and 3 p.m. Supper (cena) is served late, usually after 8 p.m. and is a light snack, although in urban areas supper can be an elaborate affair eaten at restaurants.

    What is the holy trinity of Mexican chiles? ›

    In Mexican cuisine, it's traditional to use combinations of chiles to make abuelita's famous salas and fingerlicking dishes. Traditional combinations include the Holy Trinity of Chiles: Ancho, Arbol and Guajillo.

    Why are they called chiles toreados? ›

    Traditionally served as a side dish or condiment with meat dishes, the name “Toreados” comes from the blistered appearance of the peppers, which looks like the scars left on a bullfighter's face after a bullfight.

    Are serrano peppers hot? ›

    Their SHU levels range from 2,500-8,000. Serrano Peppers: As we have mentioned, serrano peppers are incredibly similar to jalapeños, with heat being the primary distinguishing factor. These rank anywhere between 10,000 and 23,000 Scoville Heat Units.

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