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You are here: Home » Recipes » Salsas

Fresh Chile Piquin Salsa

Published: Oct 29, 2017 · Updated: Aug 12, 2018 by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

Looking for a spicy salsa to serve at your next party? Take a look at this chile piquin salsa recipe! Piquin chiles are small and have a lot of heat, making them perfect for salsa recipes. In this post, we will show you how to make authentic Mexican salsa using Piquin peppers! This is a home-style salsa, so it is hard to find it on restaurant tables.

Hot piquin salsa

One of my favorite things to share on this blog is all of my salsa recipes! If there is something that we are known for in Mexico, it's our salsas. We have a great variety ranging from creamy jalapeño to pineapple pico de gallo- there's something for everyone!

Jump to:
  • Is there a History Behind Piquin Peppers?
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Piquin Salsa
  • Fresh Chile Piquin Salsa
  • How To Make Hot Piquin Chile Salsa: Step By Step Tutorial
  • More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

While looking into the different Mexican dried peppers I could use to make salsa, I like a very hot pepper called the Piquin Pepper. Small but fiery as we say in Mexico "Chiquito pero Picoso".

Is there a History Behind Piquin Peppers?

In my studies of Mexican gastronomy.

Something that I have noticed over the years is how people give different names to peppers, depending on the region where they live. Now, you might know them as something else.

For example, my mom is from the south of Veracruz, and she calls the Guajillo peppers (which are dried long peppers) "Cascabel,” but actually, Cascabel peppers are a medium-size round (spherical) pepper. The same happens in other areas where Ancho peppers are also known as "Color Pepper," since it's a mild pepper and is commonly used to give color to a dish.

And then, we have these small and fiery Piquin peppers.

They go by many different names: Amashito, chiltepin, tepin, Chile de monte, Mash, and many other names that will change depending on what part of the country you live in. To add to the confusion, there are many different types of peppers that are similar in size and shape to Piquin peppers, and sometimes people will call a pepper "Piquin" pepper simply because it's small, even though it's actually not Piquin!

Growing piquin peppers on a plant

Frequently Asked Questions About Piquin Salsa

Before I share my recipe, here are a few questions I've been asked and wanted to answer.

How spicy are Piquin peppers?

Piquin peppers are about as spicy as habanero chiles. On the Scoville scale, it is measured at 30,000 to 60,000 units. It can be very spicy!

What do these Piquin chile peppers taste like?

These peppers taste similar to serrano or jalapeño peppers but are spicier. Someone sent me an email some time ago asking if this type of pepper has a smokey flavor. But I do not find it smokey in flavor. The flavor pairs nicely with many authentic Mexican recipes.

What is the difference between a Piquin pepper and a jalapeno?

A major difference, besides the size, is that you can remove the veins and seeds from jalapeños to reduce the heat. Flavor-wise, Piquin peppers are almost 8 times hotter than jalapeños.

What if I can't find fresh piquin peppers?

If you are not able to find fresh Piquin peppers, check this salsa recipe using dried Piquin peppers.

What other peppers can I use in place of the Piquin peppers?

I recommend using two serrano peppers or one chopped jalapeño pepper in place of the Piquin peppers in this salsa recipe.

Hot Piquin Salsa -4

Fresh Chile Piquin Salsa

This authentic Mexican salsa can be as spicy as you like! All it takes is 6 ingredients to make.

Here's what you need:

  • Piquin Peppers
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Coarse Salt
  • Mexican Oregano
  • Lime Juice
  • Water

Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

How To Make Hot Piquin Chile Salsa: Step By Step Tutorial

This recipe is absolutely delicious. All you need to do is:

  1. Place coarse salt and garlic clove in your mortar and crush until very fine.
  2. Add the fresh Piquin peppers and Mexican oregano to the mortar and grind to a rough texture. When you use your mortar (molcajete) to grind the peppers, the seeds of the peppers release their natural oils, which give the salsa an added flavor.
  3. Add the lime juice and water.
  4. Stir well and enjoy all those wonderful flavors and aromas!
step by step tutorial on how to make piquin salsa recipe

What To Serve With This Spicy Chile Salsa

Whenever I make this hot Piquin salsa, I usually prepare it in small quantities; just enough to consume on the same day.

I like to serve it with other dishes to give it a spicy kick like these crispy codfish tacos or on top of my scrambled eggs with chorizo. It's my favorite!

Hot piquin salsa 2

More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy

If you enjoyed this recipe for hot salsa, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

  • Fresh Salsa Roja
  • Habanero Tomato Salsa
  • Creamy Jalapeno Salsa
  • Chile De Arbol Salsa
  • Chipotle Salsa

I hope you make this Mexican Piquin pepper salsa! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!

¡Buen provecho!

Mely,

📖 Recipe

Hot piquin salsa - 5

Fresh Hot Piquin Salsa

Mely Martínez
This Hot Piquin Salsa made with fresh piquin peppers is an easy to prepare spicy sauce; a few drops render a lot of heat. Yes, these little peppers are hot, very hot! Fresh Piquin salsa is usually made right before serving. This is a home-style salsa, so it is hard to find it on restaurants tables.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Salsas
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 Tablespoon
Calories 2 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ⅓ Teaspoon of coarse salt
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 1 Tablespoon of Piquin Peppers
  • ⅓ Teaspoon Mexican Oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon of lime juice
  • 4 Tablespoons of water

Instructions
 

  • Place coarse salt and garlic clove in your mortar and crush until very fine.
  • Add the fresh piquin peppers and Mexican oregano to the mortar and grind to a rough texture. When you use your mortar (molcajete) to grind the peppers, the seeds of the peppers release their natural oils, which give the salsa an added flavor.
  • Add the lime juice and water. Stir well and enjoy all those wonderful flavors and aromas!

This hot piquin salsa is usually prepared in small quantities, just enough to consume on the same day.

    Notes

    If you don’t find fresh piquin peppers, try using two serrano peppers, or one chopped jalapeño pepper.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6gCalories: 2kcalSodium: 130mgPotassium: 7mgVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Nohemi Cuenca

      August 19, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      5 stars
      Great Recipes

      Reply
    2. James

      October 14, 2018 at 5:58 pm

      5 stars
      We couldn't find fresh piquin, but our market did have fresh chiles de arbol. We used those instead, and it still came out delicious. They remind me a lot of Thai chiles. I love the idea of making just enough very spicy salsa to use in one day (not to mention being able to use the molcajete and not dirty up the blender each time). We've been using this salsa on empalmes the past couple of mornings, and it's a really nice way to start the day. We are very jealous of your piquin plant, though!

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        October 18, 2018 at 7:36 pm

        Hello James,
        That is the beauty of making salsas, you can use other peppers when the ones the recipe mentions are not available.

        Reply
    3. Dolly

      December 21, 2017 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      I’m so glad I found you on Pinterest I’ve been looking for recipes and info on these Chiles. II grew up with this salsa. Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Sylvia

      November 08, 2017 at 11:16 pm

      5 stars
      I just came back from Texas, but forgot the Chili Piquin my nephew had picked for me from his ranch. My sister had to send me something in the mail and included the chili I had forgotten. I was so surprised and excited. I made some salsa with tomatoes the other day, but was looking for some other recipes. Thank for this recipe!

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        November 08, 2017 at 11:48 pm

        Hello Sylvia,
        I'm so glad your family mailed you the peppers. I know that feeling of excitement with fresh piquin peppers.
        Happy cooking!

        Reply
    5. Diana

      November 07, 2017 at 2:03 pm

      Is there a molcajete you recommend, and do you have to do anything special to it before using it. I remember my mother saying, "Se tiene que curar."

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        November 07, 2017 at 5:32 pm

        Hi Diana,
        I highly recommend the Molcajetes sold by Ancientcookware.com. You need to cure the molcajete by grinding dry rice (raw rice), you have to make several passes to the rice. Meaning that you will need to change the rice until the fine powder comes out white. Rinse the molcajete and it is ready to use. We'll have a video showing the process pretty soon.

        Reply
        • Diana

          November 10, 2017 at 5:38 pm

          Great! Muchas gracias!

    6. Ben Myhre

      October 30, 2017 at 11:10 am

      5 stars
      Today I learned about Piquin peppers!

      Reply

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    About me

    Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.
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