Bell Peppers

The bell pepper, sometimes ambiguously known simply as "pepper" or "capsicum", is a type of large mild chili pepper that is considered by many to be without heat. Bell peppers are often considered to be merely vegetables, not spices, even though some people find them to be slightly hot.

Bell peppers are green while developing and then ripen to a variety of colors, of which red and yellow are the most common but purple and orange are also found. They are edible while still unripe and have a distinctly different (and milder) taste in that state. Compared to green ones, red ones have three times as much vitamin C and 11 times as much beta carotene. Red ones are often heated over a fire, such as a gas range, to remove the skins. Some methods of doing this can add a distinctive smoky flavor.

Bell peppers are commonly added to pizza, stir-fry, and sweet and sour. They can also be opened at the top and deseeded, then stuffed and baked.

For general usage: slice in half lengthwise, then remove the stem, core, seeds, and white veins.