Vegas Serranos are larger and slightly spicier than traditional Serranos. They were originally grown and developed in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is where the name came from, and are known for being able to tolerate hot, dry climates. The Vegas Serrano has a medium heat level as it averages about 12,500 to 23,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which makes it hotter than a typical Jalapeno but not quite as hot as a Thai pepper or Habanero pepper. The Vegas Serrano is a great pepper for those who want a higher heat level than a Jalapeno, but don't want the spicy heat of a Tabasco pepper or Charleston pepper.
The flavor of the Vegas Serrano is very similar to that of the Serrano Tampiqueno. They can be eaten raw as the skin of the pepper is thin compared to many peppers that have thick skin, like the Poblano pepper. Because of their thin skin and medium heat level, Vegas Serrano peppers are great for salsa and hot sauce making.
