The Cubanelle Pepper (also called Italian Frying Pepper) is sweet pepper variety originating from Cuba. With mild heat level of 100-1,000 SHU, it’s prized for sweet flavor and thin walls that cook quickly. Cubanelles start light yellow-green and ripen to vibrant red, though they’re typically harvested while still yellow-green. Essential in Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine, particularly for sofrito (aromatic base for many dishes). The thin flesh makes them perfect for frying, hence the nickname ‘Italian Frying Pepper.’ Excellent stuffed or roasted.

Sweet, mild with slight tang

Frying, stuffing, sofrito, roasting, Cuban dishes