Padrón Peppers in London: What They Taste Like & Where to Try Them
What are Padrón peppers, why is one sometimes spicy, and where can you try them in London? A guide from Jamon Jamon Soho and Belsize Park.
Padrón peppers are one of the simplest dishes on a tapas table: small green peppers, blistered in a hot pan, finished with salt and served straight away.
They are also one of the most memorable because most are mild, but every so often one has a noticeable kick of heat. That unpredictability is part of the fun.
What are Padrón peppers?
Padrón peppers are small green peppers associated with Galicia in north-west Spain. They are usually cooked whole rather than chopped, so the skin blisters while the inside stays soft.
The classic preparation is deliberately uncomplicated: hot pan, olive oil, peppers and salt. That is exactly why the quality and freshness of the pepper matters.
What do Padrón peppers taste like?
Most Padrón peppers are mild, grassy and slightly smoky once blistered. The hot pan adds char around the edges, while coarse salt gives a sharp contrast to the soft pepper.
Then there is the famous surprise. Occasionally a pepper is much hotter than the others. You cannot reliably tell which one it will be just by looking at it, which means a shared plate can turn into a small game around the table.
How we serve them at Jamon Jamon
Our Padrón Peppers are lightly pan-fried until blistered and finished with salt. The result is smoky, savoury and easy to share with the rest of the table.
What should you order with Padrón peppers?
Padrón peppers work particularly well when they are one part of a mixed tapas order. Their freshness and slight bitterness balance richer dishes.
A good table might combine them with Patatas Bravas, Croquetas de Jamón, Gambas al Ajillo or Chorizo al Vino. If you want a bigger centrepiece after the tapas, add one of our paellas for the table.
If tapas are new to you, our complete guide to Spanish tapas explains how sharing several dishes turns into a full meal.
Where can you eat Padrón peppers in London?
You can try our Padrón Peppers at Jamon Jamon in both Soho and Belsize Park.
Padrón peppers in Soho
Jamon Jamon Soho is at 3 Caxton Walk, London WC2H 8PW, around a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus. It is convenient for the West End, Covent Garden and an evening in central London.
The Soho restaurant also has our basement events space, with salsa, comedy and selected wine or flamenco nights. That makes it easy to turn a plate of tapas into a full evening.
Padrón peppers in Belsize Park
Jamon Jamon Belsize Park is at 177 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QS, close to Belsize Park station and within easy reach of Hampstead, Primrose Hill and Swiss Cottage.
The Belsize Park restaurant has a more relaxed neighbourhood feel, with outdoor dining when the weather allows.
Planning your visit? Read our guides to what to order at Jamon Jamon Soho or what to order at Jamon Jamon Belsize Park.
Come and try Padrón peppers in London
Order a plate for the table, add a few contrasting tapas and see who gets the spicy one.