How to Clean Hot Peppers and Cut Them into Strips or Cubes

Today's recipe focuses on preparing hot peppers, an essential component in many culinary dishes, adding flavor and intensity. We begin with a crucial step to ensure we have the ingredients properly prepared for an exceptional final result.

Step 1: Cutting the hot peppers into quarters lengthwise. Start by removing the stem end of the hot pepper using a sharp knife. Then, cut the pepper in half lengthwise. It is important to have an even cut to facilitate further handling. Once you have obtained the two halves, cut each half into two, resulting in quarters. These are now ready to be cleaned of seeds.

Step 2: Removing the veins and seeds. This step is crucial, as the seeds contain the highest concentration of capsaicin, the substance responsible for the spiciness of the peppers. Use a kitchen knife to cut the veins from each quarter while simultaneously removing the seeds. If you want a less spicy dish, make sure to remove as many seeds as possible.

Step 3: Cutting the quarters into strips. Place the quarters cut side up on a clean cutting board. From each quarter, cut thin strips about 3 mm wide. These strips can be used directly in dishes or you can continue cutting them into dice, depending on your preferences.

Step 4: Cutting the dice. Gather the cut strips and align them, then cut them crosswise into pieces of 3-4 mm. These dice are ideal for adding to various recipes, from spicy sauces to delicious marinades.

Step 5: Chopping the dice. Hold the knife handles with one hand, while using the other fingers to support the tip of the knife on the cutting board. Start rocking the blade back and forth over the diced peppers. The tip of the knife will remain almost stationary, while the handle part will be moved slightly to the right and left until you achieve a fine texture. Make sure to constantly gather the chopped pepper into a pile, cleaning bits off the blade to avoid losing any flavor. Continue chopping until you achieve very fine dice, ready to be integrated into your favorite dishes. With each step, the spiciness and flavor of the peppers will enhance the taste of any dish, transforming it into an unforgettable culinary experience.