I have always wanted to write about capsicums or bell peppers; the first question that came into my mind was - What is the difference between the two? I got my answer here. A very interesting and short article indeed, so capsaicin was the answer! I did not know the word "pepper" indicates spiciness in Europe though..
I did not like pepper as much as I do now when I was little. Our bond grew stronger as I grow up, even better when I became a vegetarian. They come in vibrant colours and various shapes and sizes. The best thing is, you can always choose the size according to the size of the meal you have to prepare.
WHY ARE THEY GOOD?
-Easy to clean, to cut, simply to handle.
-Add colours to your dish!
-Taste good.
-Cripy & juicy!
-For health? Oh they are rich in Vitamin A,C and beta-carotene (strong pigment that is good for vision, immunity & overall health); like almost all vegetables, they are low in fat, cholesterol and calories.
It goes very well (& never fail) with:
-Tomatoes (Both cherry tomatoes and regular ones)
-Onions & Garlics
To bring out their freshness, the seasonings I use are very simple - salt, pepper and herbs.
For herbs, you can use both fresh and dried ones, I am still growing the fresh ones at home so for the time being I am using this, manufactured by Cape Foods.
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| 4-in-1 Herbs - Parsley, Rosemary & Thyme |
Supermarkets in Hong Kong import quite a lot of products from this company and they are pretty handy. I bought the cake decorations, you never know when a 4-in-1 can save your life ;)
Come back to the recipe, what you need is a frying pan, a small oven and fire. It would be a great dish for camping.
How to cook:
1. Clean the capsicums or bell peppers, remove the seeds. You can keep them, dry them first before planting them in the soil. I am going to try this out pretty soon!
2. Slice them into blocks or slices. I slice them really thin when I want them well cooked and become really tender and soft.
3. Chop garlics if you want a stronger taste; slice onions if you want to add sweetness to your dish. If you are greedy like me, add both.
4. Turn on the heat (Medium), pour a little bit of oil on the frying pan. Add chopped garlic/sliced onions, stir fry them until you can see them turning golden yellow and smell them. Then add the capsicums/bell peppers. Stir a little and add a pinch of salt and pepper, season it according to your preference. I usually add half a teaspoon of sea salt for three bell peppers. Yes it taste like nothing to some people but try it first. It is all about personal preference. I add LOADS of herbs though, thyme is my favourite!
5. If you want it crispy then do not cook it more than 15 minutes; well cooked ones will take around 20-25 minutes, depends on how soft you want them to be. What I do is put them in an oven safe pan, grind some parmesan cheese on top, add some dried herbs and put it in the small oven for 15 minutes until the cheese are melted.
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| Tiny Organic Capsicums from local weekend markets |
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| Stir fry crispy ones! |
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| Soft and tender, with cheese and tomato sauce |
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| Yes for melted cheese! |
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Yes they are only this small!
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Have a colourful Monday! Ciao!
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