If asked about my favorite peppers to grow in Florida, I face a dilemma. You see, I think it is altogether possible that even with the many varieties I’ve grown over the years, there may be favorites yet to be discovered. The one favorite that is certain to survive any list of previous or future favorites is Cubanelle.
The Cubanelle, or Cuban pepper, thrives in Central Florida. It is reliable and long-lasting. Some gardeners complain that it lacks the flavor of other peppers. Since it is often sautéed or stuffed, this hardly matters.
I love the melt-in-your-mouth texture of a stuffed Cubanelle. Since I first started growing them, and found myself with this abundance of peppers every summer, I began searching for new recipes to try. Before that time, stuffed peppers meant bell peppers stuffed with rice, sautéed onions and ground beef, which is actually kind of boring. Once I started looking for recipes specifically for stuffed Cubanelles, I found a whole world of interesting new ideas. One of our favorites has become Chicken Fajita Stuffed Cubanelles. And speaking of fajitas, yep, Cubanelles are fantastic. I was not really surprised when searching for Best Cubanelle Recipes to find that most are variations of stuffed peppers. And stuffings may include chicken, cheeses, sausage, turkey along with a variety of vegetables and seasonings.
While speaking of popular uses for Cubanelles, let’s not forget Sofrito, the hugely popular green seasoning of Puerto Rico. Sofrito is made from a base of Cubanelle peppers, onion, garlic and sometimes tomato, blended with herbs such as Culantro.
Some gardeners wonder if it is even possible to garden during Florida’s long hot summers. Yes, it is possible, so long as you look for varieties that welcome long, hot summers. In these conditions, the Cubanelle pepper is a star.
Cubanelles
