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What Red Chillies Should I Use For Mozzarella With Crazy Gremolata?

Asked by leclaire. Answered on 18th May 2026

Full question

The Crazy Gremolata and many of NIgella's recipes specify "1 long red chilli". These seem to be available to British cooks year-round. It would be helpful to readers not living in Britain if the genus/species of chilli was mentioned. These chillis look like the photos of cayenne. Whatever they are I’d have to grow them because they’re not available here. So having a species name would be helpful.

Mozzarella With Crazy Gremolata
Photo by Lis Parsons
Mozzarella With Crazy Gremolata
By Nigella
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Our answer

Nigella's Mozzarella With Crazy Gremolata (from NIGELLA EXPRESS) has a gremolata made with olives, chillies, garlic and lemon zest rather than the traditional parsley, garlic and lemon zest.

For the red chillies, the longer red type that can often be found in UK supermarkets are Dutch or Holland Red Chillies. These are mild to moderate chillies that are around 2,500 - 8,000 Scoville heat units (SHUs). The Scoville heat scale is used to measure the heat of various types of chillies, with bell peppers having a score of 0 SHUs. The closest alternatives would be Fresno or Jalapeño chillies, with a score of 3,500 - 8,500 SHU and you could also use these for the Crazy Gremolata. Red Jalapeño chillies are green Jalapeño chillies that have been left to ripen and turn red on the plant. Red Jalapeños tend to be slightly spicier than green Jalapeños due to the higher levels of capsaicin that develop as the chilli ripens.

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