Piment d’Espelette Basque Pepper by Matiz

Espelette is the classic pepper named after a town in the Basque country. This mildly spicy pepper has a sweet and smoky flavor and is perfect for dry rubs and marinades for grilled meats and fish. This jar of coarsely ground Espelette peppers has a shaker top for ease of use.

Piment d’Espelette peppers are a key part of Basque cuisine, and the dried peppers can be found hanging from the windows and balconies of many a home in the region. These peppers have a protected status and can only be produced in the region of Espelette, on the French side of the Basque country.

A traditional dish that is seasoned with Espelette peppers is piperrada, a mix of roasted onions, green peppers and tomatoes. The color of the dish coincidentally mirrors the colors of the Basque flag.