Serrano chile peppers (Capsicum annuum) are small, slender peppers with a bright, crisp flavor and pronounced heat. They are commonly harvested green but can be left on the plant to ripen fully to red, when their flavor becomes sweeter and their carotenoid profile changes. Serrano peppers provide vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids, and capsaicinoids, including capsaicin, the compound primarily responsible for their heat. Use serranos fresh or cooked in salsas, sauces, soups, beans, egg dishes, marinades, and other savory meals, or preserve a large harvest through freezing, drying, pickling, or fermentation.