The Birds eye chili is a name that is shared by two different types of chili peppers. One of these types is from Southeast Asia. It is a chili pepper that is similar to the green chili. It is found in the wild and used in many Indian dishes. Birds eye chili is also a name used for a small round chili found in North America. This chili is given the nickname birds eye because of its small shape and the fact that birds are sometimes able to carry these peppers around with them and spread them to other areas. The actual birds eye chili, however, is a longer pepper, shaped much like habanero, jalapeno, or banana peppers.
The birds eye chili pepper is a fairly hot pepper. On the heat scale used for measuring peppers, it is just below habanero peppers, meaning that habanero peppers are only slightly hotter than birds eye chilies. The birds eye chili is also smaller than a habanero pepper. It is usually only two or three centimeters long. The small red or green pepper is a very popular choice for dishes where a little bit of heat is needed.
The birds eye chili pepper can be used in a variety of dishes. It is typically found in Indian and Portuguese dishes, but it can be substituted into any dish that would use a habanero pepper. This would have the effect of making the dish slightly less hot. Used in place of a jalapeno pepper, the bird s eye chili would increase the overall heat of the dish. It is also a good addition to recipes for marinades or sauces for steaks or chicken. The pepper added in with the other marinade ingredients will lend heat and flavor to the finished sauce.
Birds eye chilies may prove difficult to find. Many chain grocery stores will not carry this pepper. Local grocery stores or farmers markets are also unlikely sources. In larger cities, Asian grocery stores, Indian markets and Chinese markets are all possible locations to find the birds eye chili. These retailers use the pepper in their recipes and are likely to carry both the dry and fresh forms of the pepper. Some organic grocery stores and markets also carry fresh birds eye chilies.
Alternatively, the birds eye chili can be grown at home. The pepper takes a very careful approach for proper growing. Too much or too little water can ruin the plant. A higher temperature with light watering is just right for growing these chilies. The plant typically takes about four months to grow and produce edible chilies. Seeds are available from a variety of sources, and the plant can be grown in a small pot instead of the yard, making it a great choice for people who live in apartments or have very limited outside space.
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