Whether roasted, sautéed, steamed, or baked, peppers make any dish divine
Cut & clean
Wash peppers just before using; remove the stem, seeds, and interior membranes. Sauté,
steam, or bake and add to salads, soups, or stir-fries. Store peppers in a plastic bag in the
refrigerator for up to five days.
Power food
Sweet peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A.
Super-simple roasted peppers
Broil peppers close to an open flame or heat source, rotating until they blacken evenly. Put
charred peppers in a plastic bag for about ten minutes, pull off the blackened peels, and
rinse under cold water. Pat dry, remove seeds and stems, slice, and use in salads, or
purée for soups.
Also indexed as: Banana Peppers, Bell Peppers, Bull’s
Horn Peppers, Cubanelle Peppers, Green Bell Peppers, Pimiento Peppers, Purple Sweet Peppers,
Red Bell Peppers
Wash peppers just before using; remove the stem, seeds, and interior membranes, and add to
salads, soups, or stir-frys. Peppers can be sautéed, steamed, or baked. Roast peppers by
holding them over an open flame, or broiling them about 1/2-inch (1.25cm) from the broiler
flame and rotating every minute or so until they blacken evenly. Put charred peppers in a
plastic bag for about 10 minutes, then pull off the blackened peels and rinse the peppers
under cold water. Pat dry, remove seeds and stems, and slice peppers. Use roasted pepper
slices in salads, or purée in soups.
Buying and storing tips
Peppers can be found in the produce section of health food stores and supermarkets. Choose
firm, heavy peppers with deeply colored, shiny skin, and avoid any that are shriveled, soft,
or limp. Store peppers in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Varieties
Sweet peppers range in color from green to yellow, orange, red, purple, and black. Red bell
peppers are fully ripened green bell peppers, with a milder, sweeter flavor. Other peppers
include the red, heart-shaped pimiento; the pale green, slender and curved bull’s horn;
the long, tapered Cubanelle, which ranges in color from yellow to red; and the sweet banana
pepper, which is yellow and banana-shaped.
Nutrition Highlights
Peppers (sweet, green, raw), 1 cup (chopped)
(149g)
Calories: 30
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 7g
Total Fat: 0g
Fiber: 3g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (119.80mg)
*Good source of: Vitamin A (551.30IU), and Vitamin B6 (0.33mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good
source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily
Value.
The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes
only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult
your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any
supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
Information expires September 2008.
