Green Pepper

About

These peppers are known to be the sweet variety of Capsicum Annuum, and are generally used as a vegetable rather than a spice. Can be used in a varitety of ways to add flavor to salads, sauces and more or eaten raw on its own. Some cultures also make it into a beverage.

Information

Other names: Capsicum, Green Bell Pepper, Bell Pepper, Sweet Pepper, Capsicums

Translations: Zaļā Pepper, Žalia paprika, Ardei gras, Zeleni papar, Zielonym pieprzem, Grønn Pepper, Зеленый перец, Πιπεριά, فلفل أخضر, 그린 페퍼, Zelený pepř, 青椒, Pimienta Verde, Zelený korenie, Pepe Verde, גרין פפר, GRÖNPEPPAR, Зелена паприка, ピーマン, Au poivre vert, हरी मिर्च, Pebre Verd, Зелений перець, Пиперка

Physical Description

Green, bell shaped fruit of the Capsicum family.

Colors: Green

Tasting Notes

Flavors: sweet

Mouthfeel: Crunchy

Food complements: Beef, Chicken, Pasta, Salad greens

Wine complements: White wine, Late harvest reisling, Reisling, Viognier

Beverage complements: Beer, Hard cider, Lemonade, Iced tea or soda

Substitutes: Red bell pepper, Yellow bell pepper, Orange bell pepper

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Choosing: Make sure that the peppers have no bruising, skin wrinkles, and visible holes. The peppers should feel firm.

Buying: Usually, the green bell peppers found in supermarkets are unripe yellow or red bell peppers. Some green bell peppers remain green as they ripe. One can seek advice from their local grocery store about the bell peppers they sell.

Procuring: Those interested in growing peppers can grow them from small plants or from seeds. If planting seeds, peppers can be planted during early spring or at winter's end. Mature the seeds indoors then transfer them to outside after two to three months.

Preparation and Use

Green peppers can be enjoyed raw since they're sweet and crunchy. Usually, green peppers can be found in Mediterranean and South American recipes. Green bell peppers are usually prepared by slicing off the pepper's top, then hollowing out the pepper, removing the seeds.

Cleaning: Wash the green bell pepper by gently scrubbing the bell pepper's skin, taking care not to bruise it.

Social/Political

History: Peppers originally came from Mexico, Central America and northern South America. They found their way to the rest of the world through Spanish explorers, who brought back seeds to Europe in 1493.