Serrano chilies (pronounced seh-RAH-noh) are hot, literally. With a ranking of 5,000 to 15,000 Scoville units on the chili heat scale, serranos are up to five times hotter than their cousin, the jalapeño.

(Jalapenos are rated at 2,000 to 5,000 units. In comparison, sweet bell peppers score zero units, while the fiery habanero has been charted at 300,000 units.)

This small, thin, pointy chili can be found fresh, canned or dried in supermarkets and ethnic food stores. Dried, the serrano is called chile seco.

The chili peppers are believed to have come from the foothills of Puebla in Mexico. The word serrano comes from the Spanish and means “of the mountain,” according to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

Buying tips: Look for smooth, firm, unblemished peppers about 1 1/2 inches long. As the serrano ripens, its color changes from bright green to scarlet red to yellow, according to “The New Food Lover’s Companion.”

Storing hints: Fresh serranos may be stored for a week or so in your refrigerator’s vegetable drawer. The peppers can also be frozen or dried.

Cooking suggestions: Use serranos in salsas, guacamole, chilies, stews or any dish in which you want a clean, hot flavor. Mexican and Asian recipes often call for serranos, which can be used cooked or raw.