Chiles Toreados are Mexican blistered chile peppers. This seasoned condiment brings spice and tons of flavor to tacos and grilled meats.

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Chiles Toreados piled high on a silver platter.

Chiles Toreados are either grilled or cooked in a hot pan so the skin on the spicy peppers blister.

They are then seasoned and left to be enjoyed with tacos or grilled meats (carne asada). This condiment elevates the heat and flavor of just about any dish.

You’ll find this side dish at Mexican taco stands and Mexican restaurants everywhere. Look for this condiment next to taqueria-style serrano salsa, radishes, and limes.

Typically, toreados are made with serrano peppers. Some people, however, will substitute with jalapeño peppers or Chiles Güeros.

You might also see them referred to as:

jalapeno toreado
jalapeno toreados
Chile toreado
Toreados
Chili toreado

Serrano Peppers and sliced onions on a white surface.

How to Make Them

Remove the stems from the serrano chiles.
Slice up the onions.

Some people will slice the chiles in half and cook them that way. OR, leave them whole.

Pro Tip:

You can even cook with the toreados. They make a spicy addition to any guisado (or stew). Chop them up and add them to Mexican Picadillo or Carne con Papas for an extra kick and extra flavor.

Whole serrano peppers cooking in a skillet.

In a frying pan, heat up the vegetable oil to medium-high heat. Use a cast iron skillet if you have one.
Add the chiles.

You want the skins of the chiles to blister.

If you are not used to cooking with chiles, you might want to OPEN UP the windows before starting. The smell of the peppers cooking can be hard for some to tolerate.

Skin Blistering on serrano peppers while they cook in a skillet.

Once the skin on the chiles are starting to turn black, add the sliced white onions.
Reduce to medium heat. Stir constantly.

Don’t go anywhere far. This will go very FAST. After about 1 minute and the onion is cooked, turn the heat off. Remember that each chile is different, and some are hotter than others.

This makes a great addition to any meal especially if you don’t know what to serve with enchiladas.

A hand holding half a lemon with a skillet in the background.

With the heat off, add lemon juice to the frying pan.
Stir.

The lemon will add a bit of a tang. Very few ingredients are needed in this recipe, but they make all the difference.

How to Adjust the Heat

Grab a fork and knife. Remove the seeds and the veins from the inside of the chiles. Don’t do this with your hands.

If you like it spicy, but not too spicy… I recommend slicing the peppers in half and cooking them that way. When they are ready, it’s easier to remove the seeds and reduce the heat. once they reach room temperature, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate them.

A hand holding a Jugo Maggi bottle with a skillet in the background.

From here, it’s all about the Jugo Maggi.

Not very well known north of the border, but it’s a popular ingredient in many Mexican recipes like Alambre de Res and Bistec Encebollado.

Maggi sauce is essential in this recipe. It gives a lot of great flavor to the chiles and dishes prepared with it.

If you can’t find it, simply omit it. Or…

What Can I Substitute for Jugo Maggi?

Dark Soy Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce are the closest substitutions. You can also use Thai sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, or mushroom soy sauce.

A hand holding a bottle of soy sauce next to a skillet with chile peppers cooking.

Believe it or not, there is a small but noteworthy Asian population in Mexico. They introduced soy sauce to our Mexican recipes.

In Tijuana, the area of “La Mesa Barrio Chino ” is very well-known for its large Asian residents and community. It is a Chinese enclave and home to ethnic Chinese immigrants.

Chiles Toreados with onions in a skillet.

Serve With

At Mexican taquerías, they will either serve the toreados with your tacos, or they will leave them for you next to the salsas. Sometimes you might need to ask for them.

Chile Toreados add a delicious kick to Mexican dishes and are super quick to make. Look for them when you’re out celebrating Taco Tuesday or include them in your next taco party. Buen provecho.

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Chiles Toreados

Chiles Toreados are Mexican blistered chile peppers. This seasoned condiment brings spice and tons of flavor to tacos and grilled meats.

5 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 2

Cook Time: 7

Total Time: 9

Servings:

Calories: 53kcal

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

Instructions

Remove the stems from the peppers.
Slice onion.
Set everything aside.
In a large skillet, heat the oil.
Add the peppers.
Stir constantly until the skin on the peppers start to blister.
Add the onion.
Stir for 1 minute.
Turn heat off.
Then add lemon, soy sauce, and Jugo Maggi.
Stir to combine.
Enjoy!

Video

Notes

You can use serrano peppers or jalapeños or chiles gueros.

If you like it spicy, but not too spicy… I recommend slicing the peppers in half and cooking them that way. When they are ready, it’s easier to REMOVE the seeds and REDUCE the heat.