SalsasEasyFree

Blistered Peppers

Name: Blistered Peppers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 12 Serrano chillies; 2 tbsp Vegetable oil; 3 tbsp Lime juice; 2 tbsp Salsa de soja (Maggi); 1 pinch Salt

15 min (5 prep + 10 cook) Easy 4 servings Nacional

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 11 Mar 2026 · Updated: 30 Apr 2026

Serrano chillies blistered in a hot pan with lime and Maggi sauce.

About this recipe

Chiles toreados are whole serrano or jalapeño peppers that are "toreados" (pressed and blistered) in a hot pan with oil until the skin blisters and chars. They are seasoned with lime juice, soy sauce (Maggi), salt, and sometimes accompanied by sliced onion. The name "toreados" refers to the act of bullfighting: provoking the chilli with heat until it "reacts" by blistering and releasing its essential oils. They are the quintessential accompaniment to carne asada tacos, quesadillas, seafood, and virtually any dish that needs a smoky, spicy kick. Their preparation is lightning fast - under ten minutes - and they transform any ordinary meal into an authentic Mexican experience. The heat level varies with each pepper, adding an element of surprise to every bite.

History & Origin

The concept of "torear" (bullfighting) chillies is as old as Mexican cooking itself, since roasting chillies directly over embers was a common pre-Hispanic practice. However, the modern version - with Maggi-style soy sauce and lime - is a twentieth-century creation born in the taquerías and street stalls of northern Mexico, particularly Sonora and Sinaloa. Maggi sauce, introduced to Mexico in the 1880s by the Swiss company, became so deeply integrated into popular Mexican cuisine that many consider it a native ingredient. Chiles toreados embody the philosophy of Mexican street food: few ingredients, quick preparation, and an explosive result. In every taquería in the country they are free, offered as a courtesy alongside the salsas. In Baja California they are made with güero chillies, in Jalisco with fresh chile de árbol, and in Oaxaca with chile de agua.

Estimated cost

£3.00

Total cost

£0.75

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

Calories

Protein

Carbohydrates

Fat

Fibre

320mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Wash the serrano chillies and dry them well with a cloth of cook. Make a small corte longitudinal with a knife for that not revienten to the cocinarse.
💡 Use guantes si tienes skin sensible.
2
Heat the oil in a frying pan amplia over high heat. When it is well hot, add the chillies in a sola layer.
3
Cook the chillies without moverlos for 2-3 minutes until the parte inferior ampolle and dore. Flip them and repite for the another lado. Press them ocasionalmente with a spatula contra the frying pan.
💡 El sonido of chisporroteo es normal; ten cuidado with the salpicaduras.
4
When the chillies they are ampollados and dorados on all sides, remove the frying pan of the heat. Add immediately the lime juice and the saltsa Maggi. Agita the frying pan for cubrir all the chillies. Season with salt and serve of inmediato.
💡 Serve junto a tacos, meat roasted or quesadillas.