Best Bell Pepper Recipes

Best Bell Pepper Recipes

Don't go by the name or the size, bell peppers are nothing like their potent look-a likes - chillies, or even black pepper for that matter. Even though they contain small amounts of the chemical 'capsaicin', which is responsible for the tongue-burning sensation produced by chillies, on the contrary, they have a sweet flavour, along with a slight zing. Scientifically, they are known as Capsicum annuum, and therefore are often called 'capsicum' in some countries, such as India, although in America they know it as 'bell pepper' and most parts of Europe call it just 'pepper', referring to its slight pungency.

It is said that its misleading name 'pepper' was given by none other than the great explorer, Christopher Columbus. Bell pepper is native of South America and Mexico, so when it was brought to Europe, he introduced it as 'pepper' drawing from the fact that any ingredient which was relatively spicy in those days was associated with black peppercorns, a prized spice from India.Apart from the sweet flavour and the nice crunch, bell peppers are a loved ingredient also for their bright and peppy hues, which make them a perfect ingredient to spruce up mundane recipes as well as create some stellar dishes. They come in glossy red, green, yellow, orange and even purple and black colour, and hence are an excellent source of carotenoids and Vitamin C. Toss them into salads, cut into chunks and use them to make veggie kebabs, top them on home-made pizzas and pastas, or bake them by stuffing them up with delicious fillings - there are plenty of ways to cook this beautiful produce. Point to remember: don't cook them on high heat for prolonged time because that will make them lose all their nutritional goodness.We bring you our 10 best bell pepper recipes to help you find interesting ways to dish them out at home and impress your friends and family -