What To Do With Peppers From Garden

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Bell peppers come in the colors green, yellow, orange, and red.

Image by thetzargdp14 from Pixabay

Information About the Bell Pepper

Bell peppers are also known as "sweet peppers." Many people consider them a vegetable, but they are technically a fruit. Bells are part of the Capsicum species. They are the only Capsicum that doesn't produce capsaicin. Capsaicin is the chemical in peppers that causes the spiciness. That is why bell peppers are referred to as sweet peppers, because they are sweet, not spicy.

You can enjoy peppers plain, with a veggie dip, or cooked into a meal. Many people enjoy stuffed bell peppers filled with ground beef, garlic, onion, and tomatoes. You can use a bell pepper ring and cook an egg inside it on the stove-top for a unique and nutritious breakfast choice.

Did you know bell peppers were packed with vitamins? Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and more are all provided by this fruit-like vegetable.

Green bell peppers are typically cooked.

Green Peppers

Green peppers are the most commonly used bell pepper. They have a rather bitter taste. Not many people enjoy eating them plain because of this, but they are a popular ingredient in cooking. This version is not yet ripe and that is why the taste is off compared to the brightly colored versions.

Yellow bell peppers are good plain or cooked.

Yellow Peppers

These are actually my favorite bell peppers. They taste the best, in my opinion. Yellow peppers have an almost fruity taste and are very sweet. They are great for cooking or eating plain.

Orange bell peppers aren't as popular as the other colors.

Orange Peppers

Orange peppers are the least commonly used peppers. They are similar to the yellow pepper but a little less sweet. These are good for eating, and they're also good for cooking and adding some color to your plate.

Red Peppers

Red peppers are said to be the sweetest and juiciest bell peppers. They are fully ripe and the most mature. Since they are fully ripe, they contain more nutrients than the other peppers (including vitamins A and C). Also, red peppers contain lycopene, which is a carotenoid that may lower the risk of various cancers. If you're going to choose just one color to eat, then red should be on your plate!

A Purple Pepper?

Did you know that purple bell peppers are also possible? I didn't! I only recently discovered that a vibrant purple pepper was an option. It's still sweet like its red, orange, and yellow counterparts. In some locations, a green pepper can turn to white due to the weather. Eventually a purple stripe may develop, leading to the entire thing shading darker to a deep purple hue. If you can't find this color in your local shop, you can try to get some purple pepper seeds online instead. Purple-shaded foods, like blueberries, are often higher in antioxidants.

So, Do They Taste Different?

Yes! The different colors of bell peppers actually do taste different. Green is the least ripe and the most bitter. The others are much sweeter, with red being the sweetest. If a recipe calls for green peppers, or you simply feel like adding some color to your meal, I would choose yellow or red (or maybe even the unique purple) instead. Red is said to have the most nutrients and is one of the healthiest "vegetables" you can eat.

MarG on May 06, 2020:

We love stuffed peppers with a filling of browned ground beef, cooked rice, onion and canned diced tomatoes, and stir in some chili powder. Use ALL the different colors of peppers. They are ALL delicious this way.

DL on August 01, 2019:

Green are my favorite for omelettes, together with red onion, sliced mushrooms, and either ham, bacon, or sausage. Have a bumper crop of peppers this year in my garden from a variety called "Wonderful".