Venezuelan sweet pepper is a culinary institution. They adopted the version that landed on Margarita Island thousands of years ago and now, together with the Margarita pepper, they make some of their most traditional dishes. In Colombia, the chili sauce, although spicy, is also an intrinsic part of the culture. And in Mexico, chili peppers, known as chile, are present in the basic daily menu. But what exactly is sweet pepper, why do they call it pepper in Spain, and how true is it that it helps us lose weight, take care of our heart, and prevent cancer? We will find out everything in the following paragraphs.
What is sweet pepper?
Sweet chili is the name given to the fruit of Capsicum annuum in Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and practically all of Latin America. In Mexico, it is referred to as chile and in Spain the same fruit is called pimiento. Both the generic name of chili, chile or pepper encompasses the sweet and spicy varieties, hence the importance of the surname.
Unlike choricero peppers, habanero peppers, and poblano peppers, sweet peppers contain very little capsaicin, which is why they are not spicy. Because of their sweetness, they are used as a colouring and flavouring agent, and appear in hundreds of emblematic recipes from each country. Peppers are very common in Spain, fresh in salads or gazpachos, roasted in the oven or stuffed. Venezuelan sweet peppers are a pillar of Venezuelan gastronomy: pastel de chucho or monte de chivo would not exist without them. And in Peru, Mexico, and the rest of the world they know that stews and sauces would be a lot smoother without them.
In the food industry, sweet pepper is highly valued for the creation of oleoresin, an oil balm for coloring purposes that we can identify under the name E160c and which is present in liqueurs, jams, and/or sausages.
Varieties of sweet pepper
Within the Capsicum genus there are up to five species cultivated throughout the world, Capsicum chinense, the spicy habanero pepper, Capsicum frutescens, known as Amazonian or Tabasco chili, Capsicum pubescens, the Andean chili or rocoto, and of course Capsicum annuum. Of all the species, the most produced and consumed worldwide is Capsicum annuum.
Capsicum annuum chilli peppers can be either hot or sweet, although today we are only concerned with the sweet version. Thanks to the great worldwide expansion of this crop, from America to Asia, there are hundreds of varieties of sweet Capsicum annuum with slight morphological or flavour variations. We find green, yellow, orange or red sweet chilli peppers depending on the ripeness as well as the larger or smaller size. In markets and supermarkets, we can find them fresh or ground. When it comes to ground sweet chilli peppers or ground red peppers we are talking about paprika.
Origin of sweet pepper
Sweet peppers grow in warm environments with high and constant humidity, as befits their native tropical climate. The oldest seeds discovered date back 7,000 years, found between Bolivia and Peru. Native Americans cultivated peppers for more than 2,000 years, making them the oldest crop on the American continent.
Spanish colonization had a lot to do with the expansion of its seeds to the rest of the continents, although it also involved a linguistic shift. When Columbus tried the hot pepper, he thought that its flavor was very similar to that of pepper, so he named it pimiento. Thus, in Spain the word “pimiento” encompasses all species of pepper, including the sweet, heart-shaped fresh vegetable or the spicy, choricero pepper from northern Spain.
The linguistic adventure is global. For Hungarians, “paprika” is the way of referring to the vegetable, although officially paprika is defined as ground pepper. The general term “chile” is used to designate any kind of pepper in Mexico and in Asia “chili” is the name given to the variety of hot pepper. If one thing is clear, it is that whether we talk about peppers, chili peppers or chillies, it is better to specify “sweet” if we do not want to end up with a surprisingly spicy spoonful. In all its versions, the world market continues to grow and the cultivation of sweet pepper is disputed by China and, of course, Mexico, the country with the most varieties of chilli in the world.
Nutritional values of sweet pepper
Sweet peppers or red peppers contain 11% folic acid, 20% vitamin B6, and up to 150% vitamin C. They are low in calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates, making them a refreshing snack and a natural supplement to boost our vitamin supply.
- Energy: 30 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 5.2 g
- Fats: 0.4 g
- Proteins: 1.19 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Vitamin B6 : 0.3 mg
- Folic Acid: 47 mcg
- Vitamin C: 142 mg
Properties of sweet pepper
Sweet peppers or red peppers contain high percentages of vitamin C, lycopene, carotenoids, and flavonoids. They also have a modest amount of vitamin B6 and folic acid. They are a vegetable, actually a fruit, very rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the main ones responsible for the long list of health benefits they provide. They are also low in calories and thanks to carotenoids such as lycopene, they have properties that benefit cardiovascular health and cancer prevention.
Benefits of sweet pepper
Sweet pepper has many health benefits. It stimulates the immune system, helps prevent some types of cancer that are most prevalent worldwide, and is a fruit, although consumed as a vegetable, ideal for maintaining a healthy weight and a young body. Below are the main virtues of sweet pepper.
Strengthens the immune system
Bell peppers are high in vitamin C. By consuming just 100 g, we can obtain up to 150% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C reinforces the antioxidant power of bell peppers and contributes to collagen synthesis, which not only allows us to have fantastic skin but also promotes tissue integrity and infection prevention. In addition, vitamin C also stimulates the activity of lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system, helping to reinforce their function and keeping us away from diseases.
Take care of your cardiovascular health
The lycopene content present in red peppers contributes to reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol. Daily consumption of a supplement equivalent to the consumption of two to three red peppers a day for 3 months helped reduce the LDL cholesterol levels of the participants by up to 14%. Therefore, without a doubt, if we want to reduce, and above all, prevent the development of future cardiovascular diseases, including sweet peppers daily in our meals is a fantastic idea.
Ideal for staying young
Red pepper is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which are essential when it comes to reducing free radicals. To get the most out of this virtue, it is best to consume sweet pepper fresh. This way we prevent the heat of cooking, whether steaming, frying or roasting, from reducing the amount of vitamins and antioxidant components.
It could help prevent cancer
Red bell peppers are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid with antioxidant action that not only contributes to the characteristic red color but may also help prevent different types of cancer. In vitro epidemiological studies showed that lycopene was especially effective in stopping the proliferation of breast, lung, endometrium, and prostate cancer cells in men.
Recommended for weight loss
Sweet peppers have one of the best nutritional triads to help in the weight loss process: they are low in calories, low in fat, and rich in water. We can consume them ad libitum without fear, either fresh to take full advantage of their vitamin content, in stir-fries or accompanying fish. For many reasons, it is a vegetable that should be consumed daily and totally recommended for losing weight.
Contraindications of sweet pepper
In case of allergy, consumption of sweet peppers can cause itching in the mouth during or after consumption. Sometimes it can also cause swelling of the lips or tongue and, in more serious cases, anaphylactic shock. Only the hot varieties of peppers can present other problems such as stomach irritation due to the capsaicin content. Beyond that, sweet peppers are a safe and healthy food.
Use of sweet pepper in cooking
Sweet peppers can be used fresh, dehydrated, ground or preserved. In Mexico, they are essential for preparing moles and enchiladas, in Peru, they are an essential ingredient in chicken chaulafán, and in Spain, they are the reason for hundreds of recipes with peppers, such as roasted peppers, peppers stuffed with minced meat, or mojo canario. What would good wrinkled potatoes be without mojo?
Beyond savory dishes, a delicious sweet pepper jam is also prepared, which acts as heaven on earth when spread on toast and topped with cheese. It is easy to see why the pepper managed to conquer kitchens all over the world.