Konnichi wa / Great Outdoors
Best Ways to Use Peppadew Peppers
Introduction
Peppadew peppers are a wonderful and flavorful addition to any dish. They have a tangy, sweet, and smoky flavor that is difficult to replicate with other ingredients. In this article, I will discuss the best ways you can use peppadew peppers in your cooking and where to find them!
Watch this video on Peppadew peppers!
What are Peppadew peppers?
Peppadews, or sweet piquanté peppers, are a type of tangy, sweet red pepper that is grown in South Africa. They grow on small trees with green leaves and pods that turn red at maturity, which usually happens within three months. The peppers have an appearance similar to a cherry tomato but can also be yellow or orange when ripe. Peppadew means "pepper" in the Afrikaans language, so it's not surprising they look like chilies! They are actually a piquante pepper or Juanita pepper grown in the Limpopo province of South Africa that are then a pickled pepper that is sold under the brand name Peppadew by a South African company.
The sweet peppers are generally eaten in a salad or on bread and are often included in antipasto platters or olive bars, but they have also become a popular condiment for hamburgers and hot dogs. They can be used as a secret ingredient to add spicy flavor to soups or as a pizza topping. When you purchase them from the grocery store, Peppadews should be stored at room temperature until opened and then refrigerated afterward. You may want to keep some in your freezer so that you'll always have fresh ones when needed!
Peppadew is perfect for adding more spice into dishes without overpowering other flavors - like chicken soup with rice noodles, basil leaves, peas and carrots mixed together; just one tablespoon of peppadew pepper will provide a subtle kick of heat while still letting the other flavors shine. Stuffed Peppadew peppers is also a classic dish and you can even add them to your cheese plate!
These sweet cherry peppers register 1100-1200 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale, making it similar to a poblano pepper in spiciness and 4-5 times milder than a jalapeno pepper.
What are the best ways to use Peppadew peppers?
One of the most popular ways is as a condiment for hamburgers and hot dogs, but they can also be used in many other recipes! Try adding them into soups or crab cakes for some extra flavor; just one tablespoon will provide a subtle kick of heat without overpowering any other ingredients while still letting their natural flavors come through. You can store your peppadews at room temperature until you open the jar, then refrigerate afterwords - if you don't want your extras going bad before you get around to using them all up! And when it comes time to prepare meals with these gorgeous little red beauties, make sure not to forget about their health benefits too!
Are Peppadew peppers hot?
Peppadews are not spicy. They have a sweet and tangy flavor that is perfect for adding more spice to dishes without overpowering other flavors!
These sweet cherry peppers register 1100-1200 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale, making it similar to a poblano pepper in spiciness and 4-5 times milder than a jalapeno pepper.
What kind of pepper is a Peppadew?
Peppadews are actually a piquante pepper or Juanita pepper grown in the Limpopo province of South Africa that are then a pickled pepper that is sold under the brand name Peppadew by a South African company. They grow on small trees with green leaves and pods that turn red at maturity, which usually happens within three months. The peppers have an appearance similar to a cherry tomato but can also be yellow or orange when ripe. Peppadew means "pepper" in the Afrikaans language, so it's not surprising they look like chilies!
What countries grow Peppadews?
South Africa grows them as their main crop - other places where these beauties originate from include Australia, Uruguay, Canada, Argentina and France.
Where did the name come from?
The word "peppa-dew" actually means "pepper" in the Afrikaans language, so it's not surprising they look like chilies!
How do Peppadews grow?
The peppers usually begin to turn red between three months after being planted from seedlings or purchased from nurseries. They typically grow on small trees with green leaves and pods that turn red at maturity. The peppers have an appearance similar to a cherry tomato but can also be yellow or orange when ripe.
Where would you find Peppadews?
You should try looking at grocery stores near you; they are generally found on store shelves in jars with vinegar or brine packets so they stay fresh. You can also try looking for them at farmer's markets or find someone who sells wholesale produce.
How to grow Peppadew peppers
Peppadew peppers are readily available at most grocery stores. In the produce section, they can be found with the other sweet juicy peppers and should be near their picture on the label. Some popular brands include Trader Joe's, Bolthouse Farms, Whole Foods 365 Organic Sliced Peppers, and Original Fructis Bonne Maman Preserves/Sauces - Coupe Piments Rouges (in France).
In the grocery store, it is most common to find peppadew peppers in a jar. They can also be found as canned or packaged whole peppers with their own juices from brands such as Trader Joe's and Bonne Maman (France). Canned or bottled Peppadews are just that: ready-to-eat but not cooked. In jars of peppers, they should already be prepped for cooking by being sliced into rings; otherwise you will need to slice them yourself before eating.
Peppadew pepper sauces may come either roasted and/or seasoned ones like Trader Joe's has done - these would typically go best on salads and sandwiches - or raw in preserves form like Fructis' "Bonne Maman" line.
How to grow Peppadew peppers
Peppadew peppers don't grow well in cold weather. You can plant them outside as long as the ground is warm, but they will need to be brought into a warmer environment during winter months.
It's important that you have some light inside of your house and not just sunlight for growing Peppadews. They need at least 14 hours of day-light every day to thrive (which means artificial lights are necessary). If there isn’t enough natural light available, it might take up to six weeks before your plants start producing fruit! Be patient if this happens, because once they do produce their delightful little red fruits, you'll never want anything else again!
Some of the best ways to use Peppadews are
The simplest way is just slather them on a sandwich, burger or steak! They're delicious with any kind of meat. It's so easy and this will be your new favorite condiment in no time. You can also enjoy adding it to salads for some extra flavour - they'll go wonderfully with proteins like grilled chicken, salmon or avocado.
Add chopped peppers too dishes that would normally get black pepper if you want something more interesting than standard salt and pepper. This includes omelettes, eggs benny (better known as breakfast poached eggs), soups, pasta sauces etc. Mixing peppadew into these foods gives them a deliciously tangy, spicy flavour.
You can also try adding them to fish or chicken dishes if you want something a little different for your dinner party guests. They'll add an extra punch of flavor and color without overpowering the dish (or anyone!)
Tips
Peppadews are a bit of an acquired taste. You might need to use them in your cooking for a while before you start liking the flavor
If you don't like too much spice, it's best not to put these peppers into dishes that have already been cooked (they're very powerful and can overpower other flavors)
Remember: be careful when planting Peppadew seeds because they will grow outside during warmer months! If you want to bring them back indoors from outdoor growing, make sure there is enough space inside so they won't get cramped.
Recipes with Peppadew peppers
Peppadews with Beef and Pineapple Skewers
This is a great appetizer or hors d'oeuvre! It's so easy and quick to make.
Ingredients
- Six beef cube steaks
- One large pineapple chunk
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning mix
- Salt/pepper to taste
- Two lemons (for the juice)
- Peppadew peppers for garnish
Directions
Cut your pineapple into chunks as well as cutting up some of the peppadews just enough that they are still intact but not whole anymore; cut them in half crosswise if you like more visual appeal. Toss all your ingredients together on a sheet pan after brushing with olive oil - then bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until steak is cooked through and about six minutes from done (you can also grill these). Remove from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Grilled Vegetable Kabobs with Spicy Marinade
Ingredients
- Grilled Peppadews
- Zucchini, yellow squash and onion slices
- Cherry tomatoes with stem on (you can skewer them first)
- Extra virgin olive oil for brushing the vegetables
- Spicy marinade: ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar reduced in a small sauce pan to about ½ cup. Add two tablespoons each honey, soy sauce, garlic powder and black pepper. Mix well until combined; set aside to cool down before adding your veggies to it. The mixture will thicken as it cools. You may need to add some water if you want yours thinner or more thinly coated than how I like mine.
Directions
This is one of my favorite ways to use peppadew peppers. I usually have a bag or two in the fridge, and they make an excellent base for any kind of grilled vegetable kabob. This time we used zucchini, yellow squash and onion slices with cherry tomatoes skewered on as well. We brushed them generously with olive oil before adding our veggies to the spicy marinade mixture that had been reduced down into a thick sauce-like consistency from boiling in water until it became too thinned out and needed more flour added (this was after reducing about half way). The great thing about this recipe is how versatile it is: feel free to add your own vegetables depending on what you like best! You could even throw on some grilled pineapples for a sweet and juicy addition. Once they're finished grilling, serve them on top of your favorite dish or side to add onto the flavor!
Peppadew Tuna with Pita
Tuna salad is a great way to use peppadew peppers. Toss these tasty vegetables with tuna and mayo, add some black pepper, and enjoy!
Ingredients
- Peppadews- 24 pieces (firm)
- Mayonnaise - ½ cup
- Black Pepper - ¼ teaspoon or as needed
- Ahi Tuna Steaks – 12 ounces, about four steaks per person
- Lettuce leaves for serving (optional)
- Herbed goat cheese or cream cheese (optional)
Directions
Toss the peppadews with mayonnaise and black pepper. Add tuna steaks, lettuce if desired. Serve cold or at room temperature on a bed of lettuce leaves.
Final thoughts on Peppadew peppers
Hope you enjoyed this article on Peppadew peppers!
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