fresh chili pepper

Description

Fresh chili pepper has an intense, spicy flavor with a fruity, sometimes slightly sweet note, and its appearance includes various shapes and colors — from green to yellow to fiery red — usually with a shiny, smooth skin. It contains capsaicin, which is responsible for the heat, as well as vitamins A and C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds that support immunity, metabolism, and circulation, and may also alleviate pain and aid digestion in moderate amounts. In the kitchen, chili pepper is suitable for sauces, marinades, Asian, Mexican, and Mediterranean dishes, and pairs well with tomatoes, garlic, citrus fruits, and fatty dairy products that mellow the heat. Fresh peppers are best stored unwashed in the refrigerator in a perforated bag or container in the vegetable drawer; they can also be chopped and frozen in oil or preserved by drying or pickling.