Grind chilli and put it in oil and boom! A real hot explosion!
Origin
Chilli belongs to the Solanaceae family. They are native of South America and were known and used as food by indigenous population for thousands of years, long before european colonization of America. Its original name in nahuatl language was chilli too! It spread very rapidly in the mediterranean region and in North Africa. Its rapid diffusion replaced more expensive and unavailable spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper.
Cook It
Chillies are used either fresh or dried to flavour dishes, expecially sauces and meats. Other countries, especially in Asia and in South America, use chilli more often and in larger quantities than western cuisines, so much that many plates tend to be too hot for western tastes.
Did You Know That?
Sweet pepper, delicious if grilled, sauteed or stuffed belongs to the chilli family. Chillies are rich in vitamins C and have very strong antibiotic properties, which make it a very good ingredient to preserve food.
