Description
Fresh green peppers bring vibrant color, satisfying crunch, and mild sweetness to countless dishes across kitchens worldwide. These versatile bell peppers, also known as capsicums, feature thick walls, crisp texture, and a gentle, slightly grassy flavor that makes them perfect for both raw and cooked applications.
Green peppers are simply unripe bell peppers, harvested before they develop the sweetness of their red, yellow, or orange counterparts. Their sturdy structure and mild taste make them ideal for stuffing with rice, ground meat, or vegetarian fillings. They're essential ingredients in classic dishes like Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches, Chinese stir-fries, Mexican fajitas, and Creole jambalaya. Raw green peppers add wonderful crunch to salads, vegetable trays, and sandwiches, while their natural cup shape makes them perfect vessels for dips.
When cooking with green peppers, remember they soften quickly, so add them toward the end of cooking for maximum crunch or early on if you prefer them tender. They pair beautifully with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and garlic in sautés and stir-fries. For grilling, cut them into strips and brush lightly with oil, or roast them whole until charred for easy peeling. Green peppers complement both bold spices like cumin and paprika, and delicate herbs like basil and oregano. Store them in the refrigerator crisper drawer for up to a week, and wash just before using to maintain their fresh, crisp texture.