Why red capsicum is useful: description of the composition and properties of the product. Ground red pepper

Preface

If you like to add heat and spiciness to your dishes, you should definitely have hot peppers in your arsenal. To do this, you don’t have to run to the store for seasoning every time - from this article you will learn how to dry red hot peppers in reserve.

How to dry hot peppers at home - winter supplies

One option for preparing peppers for storage is a regular kitchen oven. Before starting the process, the pods are thoroughly washed under waste water and remove moisture with napkins. It is also necessary to cut the hot pepper into halves, and if it is large enough, into 4 parts and remove the stalks. It is better to perform all procedures with rubber gloves, otherwise you may get burned. delicate skin hands

Be careful - during the process, do not touch your face with your fingers or wipe the sweat with your hands. In short, keep your hands away from sensitive areas.

The baking tray in the oven should be covered with baking paper. Place the chopped peppers in a single layer. Then heat the oven to 50°C, insert a baking tray and leave the appliance door slightly open. It is in such conditions that everything will be as it should be - spicy pods They won’t bake, but rather they will dry out.

Our grandparents also used the following option for drying peppers. We are talking about the natural drying of pods strung on a rope. Pepper dries best in a ventilated area where it is warm enough and has low humidity. Wash the pepper pods, dry them a little and attach them to a thread or thin rope with a needle. The needle should be threaded through the stalk. When choosing a thread or rope, check its strength. A rope with stringed peppers is attached to the ends. The pods should not touch each other on the string. Only in this case will the pepper dry evenly and be ideal for use in various dishes. .

How to dry red hot peppers at home

Capsicums can be preserved by drying them on a wire rack. There are even special dryers for vegetables and fruits. If your dryer is not electric, then you can use grates and the heat of gas burners. In this case, it is important to fold the pods in one layer and turn the burners on medium heat. It will take at least a couple of hours to achieve the desired result. In 2–3 hours, the heat will dry the pods enough so that they can be stored for a long time and not spoil. After removing from the grill, the pepper must be dried on paper. The seasoning is best stored at room temperature.

If you decide to use an electric dryer, then in this case make everything as easy as shelling pears. True, the process will take a fairly long period of time - about a day. It is better to place the contents of the dryer in the daytime to warm up the contents, since in this case your participation will be needed - the vegetables will need to be stirred from time to time.

The easiest option for those who don’t have time to fuss is to dry vegetables at home on the window. To do this, you will need wide window sills and the absence of inquisitive children. So, put the washed peppers on parchment and leave them to dry for about 2 or 3 weeks. Turn and stir the pods from time to time.

For those who have used our options and drying methods, let us add that the resulting blanks do not like moisture. It is better to move such a product into fabric bags, paper bags or glass jars. In the latter case, there is no need to cover the container with a lid, just cover the neck with gauze cloth. If you used a strong thread, then the strung vegetables can be safely stored in the kitchen. Both you and your guests will love such an elegant and necessary decoration for cooking.

If you intend to use red pepper in the future not in pods, but in the form of crushed powder, then the dried pods can simply be ground in a regular food processor or even a coffee grinder. Once your hot powder is ready, be sure to transfer it to an airtight, and most importantly, dry container for bulk ingredients. And, of course, rinse the coffee grinder!

Pepper is not as simple as it seems! For example - . This spice is constantly on our table, and we no longer notice it. Meanwhile, it has its own history.

History of red pepper

Made from bitter hot peppers, red peppers come in many different varieties. Because there are a great many varieties of this hottest capsicum: it may not be a very hot fruit, or it may be so hot that one touch instantly causes irritation on the skin.

The American tropics are considered the homeland of red hot pepper. In Peruvian burials, for example, this spice is present as an obligatory element of the burial ritual. This means that the Indians considered pepper a sacred plant and thought that in the next world it was impossible to do without it. It still grows wild in these tropical forests.

Be that as it may, in our lives we are without ground red pepper we definitely don’t get by by seasoning it various dishes. None meat dish It’s impossible to imagine without pepper! You can also remember the pepper patch, which helps so well with colds and other diseases. Or toothpaste with added ground red pepper which helps heal gums.

Red hot pepper came to Russia in the 16th century. And like any spice, it was highly valued - only the wealthiest people could eat it. Now it is grown and exported by many countries with hot climates: India, East Asian countries, as well as Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan. In Russia, red peppers are grown in the Krasnodar region and the lower Volga region. Experts say that the best varieties of red pepper grow in countries Southeast Asia, Indochina and Vietnam, because these are the places where the climate is suitable and there is a lot of sun in order to properly dry and process the pods into a spice.

Red pepper is obtained from dried ripe fruits (pods) of the genus Capsicum. It belongs to the nightshade family and can be called differently: red, cayenne, hot, chili, hot. The process of processing the pods into a spice is very simple: the fruits are dried in the sun until the moisture is completely destroyed, when the fruits become completely wrinkled. Then they are ground into powder - the spice is ready. Everything that nature has put into this plant comes to our table.

Breeders are developing new varieties of red pepper, satisfying the needs food industry and ordinary housewives. So, for example, the well-known paprika is a spice from the mildest varieties of red pepper, and chili is one of the hottest. What these seasonings have in common is a unique taste that cannot be confused with any other. It is this taste that is valued by spice connoisseurs.

The alkaloid capsaicin gives red pepper its pungency and pungency, its red color comes from carotene, and vitamins make it useful. Also present in peppers minerals, protein, sugar and essential oils in small quantities - that’s why the red pepper pod has a faint smell.

The benefits and harms of ground red pepper

Most best pepper- the one that was ground together with the seeds, because they contain more useful substances than in the fruit itself. This spice has a more intense taste that lasts for long-term storage, as well as more natural color. By the way, the real one should have an intense red or red-orange color.

The effect of ground red pepper on the human body is as follows: it stimulates appetite, which leads to stimulation of work gastrointestinal tract, that is, better digestion of food. It also improves the functioning of the pancreas, encouraging it to produce the enzymes necessary for the functioning of the stomach.

Known to be beneficial effect of ground red pepper on blood circulation. As Ayurveda experts say, it warms up the blood, thereby helping to cleanse blood vessels and increase their elasticity. Therefore you can hear that pepper is good for the heart. The carotenoids contained in the spice help improve vision. But since we consume pepper only as a seasoning, we cannot talk about a strong effect on vision.

Pepper is used externally for various diseases joints in the form of compresses and pepper plasters to get rid of cough and other bronchopulmonary diseases. It is used for rheumatism and arthritis as a warming agent.

However, it is contraindicated for people with severe diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or during exacerbations of these diseases. There are also cases of allergies to certain types of pepper or spices with its addition.

Using ground red pepper

Some nutritionists believe that red pepper can be used for weight loss. For example, if you add a little of this spice to your daily serving of kefir, the result will not be long in coming. Apparently, this effect is due to the ability of pepper to accelerate all processes in the body - including the metabolic process, which gives such an effect. Therefore, with a healthy stomach there will be no harm, only benefit.

And one more recipe for cheerfulness: make yourself some coffee, add cinnamon and red pepper on the tip of a knife. The taste is simply delicious - unusual, spicy. How invigorating! Involuntarily, after such a drink you want to run, which means burning extra calories.

A piece of advice for spicy food lovers: put red pepper pods in dishes while cooking for a few minutes, and then take them out. Familiar dish will take on a completely different shade. Just don't experiment with too much spicy varieties- you can ruin lunch.

How to cook ground red pepper

If you love everything fresh and natural, cook it yourself. To do this, just grind the dried pod in a coffee grinder. This way you can have freshly prepared natural seasoning at home all winter, the quality of which you are absolutely sure of. Maybe then you will be able to understand the difference between purchased and homemade spice. Of course, if you follow the storage conditions: the container must be tightly closed.

Regarding consumption rates ground red pepper– it all depends on the preferences and health status of the person who chooses pepper as a seasoning. If the quality of pepper is determined mainly organoleptic method, then the consumption rate is determined empirically.

Hot pepper is a spicy vegetable. It adds brightness to any dish. For fans of hot peppers, peppers are an indispensable product. You can prepare it for the winter in various ways: marinate, salt, preserve with other vegetables.

Hot pepper: preparations for the winter. Pickling

In the first recipe we will tell you how to marinate whole peppers. To do this you will need: various additives to taste and desire - peppercorns, horseradish leaves and roots, currant leaves, dill umbrellas, cinnamon, basil, garlic and others. Marinade: 4 tsp per liter of water. salt and 2 tbsp. l. Sahara. Pour a teaspoon of vinegar (9%) into each jar.

Technology

Let's start preparing bitter peppers, pickled for the winter, by preparing the pods. Dry ends need to be trimmed. Do not open the pod itself. Place spices in jars. Scald the pepper with water and fill the container up to the shoulders. Bring water to a boil, add salt and sugar. Pour over the peppers and cover with sterilized lids. Wait for the containers to cool slightly and drain the brine. Wait until it boils again and pour the liquid into the jars. Repeat the procedure again. Then pour in the vinegar, screw on the lids, and leave the containers to cool.

Hot pepper: preparations for the winter. Salting

In the second recipe we will perform salting hot pepper. You need: a kilogram of hot pepper, dill (several large bunches), 40 grams of celery and garlic. Brine: water (1 liter), 80 ml of 6% vinegar, salt (60 grams).

Cooking process

This one involves roasting a vegetable. Place the peppers on a baking sheet, place in the oven and keep until softened. Then cool and place in sterilized jars. Place as tightly as possible, adding garlic and dill. Bring water to a boil, add salt and vinegar. Cool the brine and pour into jars. Place a weight on top and brine the peppers for 3 weeks at room temperature. Then close the lids and place in the refrigerator.

Chopped hot pepper: preparations for the winter

Preserve crushed pepper according to the following recipe. Ingredients: one kilogram of pepper, half a glass (100 ml) of apple or wine vinegar, 1 tbsp. l. salt.

Wash the peppers and cut off the stems. Pass together with the seeds and partitions through a meat grinder (on a large wire rack). Mix the mixture with salt and vinegar. Arrange according to sterile jars, seal with lids. The pepper is ready. You can serve it with meat or spread it on bread. This method is suitable as a basis for preparing adjika.

Hot pepper: with tomato

Ingredients: pepper, vegetable oil, tomato juice(homemade), sugar and salt.

Wash the peppers, cut off the stalks. Heat the oil and fry the vegetable a little. put on the fire to boil. It should decrease in volume by about half. Then strain it and add sugar and salt. Taste - spices should be in moderation. Place the peppers in jars. Fill with juice. Sterilize for 20 minutes, then seal with lids. Store in a basement or cellar. In winter, peppers prepared according to this recipe will be an excellent snack!

Hot pepper will always find its place in the kitchen. The vegetable grown in your own garden is most valued. Hot peppers have many advantages: they are easy to grow, produce a large harvest, and can be stored well. How to preserve vegetables for the winter, we will find out in the article.

Varieties for long-term storage

There are more than three thousand varieties of crops. For long-term storage, it is better to choose mid- or late-ripening varieties of hot pepper.

When choosing seeds you need to pay attention to the following points:

The severity depends on the place of cultivation. If the variety grows in the northern part, then the fruits will be less pungent than those that grew in a hot climate;
if peppers are planted in open ground, then it is better to focus on hybrid varieties with a growing season of 95-105 days;
Before choosing this or that variety, you should better study its characteristics.

The best varieties hot pepper for long-term storage:

Average ripening period:

Astrakhansky 147;
Ram's horn;
Ogonyok;
Cayenne red;
Dragon's tongue.

Late ripening:

Vizier;
Riot;
Tabasco;
Super Chilli;
Gorgon F1;
Tone.

How to select for storage

There are 2 stages of ripeness:

technical. The fruits have grown to maximum size but are not ripe in color;
biological– the fruits have a color that is characteristic of a particular variety.

Unlike sweet peppers, bitter peppers need to be harvested only at the biological stage, when the vegetable is fully ripe. Red hot peppers can be stored much longer than green ones, as they contain a high concentration of carotene and vitamin C. Thanks great content Because of a special substance that is a natural preservative, peppers are stored well.

Rules for selecting and preparing peppers for storage:

you need to choose completely healthy fruits;
After the harvest is harvested, the pods need to rest for a week in the open air. To do this, they need to be placed in boxes in one layer;
When a week has passed, sort through the vegetables and throw away spoiled specimens. The fruit should not have cracks, dents, rot or other defects.

When collecting from the garden, it is better to use garden shears and cut it off along with the stalk. Pods are chosen for storage perfect quality. Specimens with minor cracks can be frozen.

Important! It is better to carry out all selection procedures with gloves so as not to burn the skin of your hands. Also, do not touch your face with your hands and avoid getting pepper in your eyes. After preparation, your hand should be washed with soap. If the skin continues to burn, then you need to wipe the affected areas with an alcohol wipe, wash with soap and water and lubricate with cream.

Storage conditions and periods

There are many ways to preserve hot peppers for the winter:

dry;
preserve;
freeze;
grind;
leave fresh.

The optimal temperature for long-term storage of hot pepper is +2+5 C. The fruits can be stored:

in the freezer;
in the loggia;
in the pantry;
in the basement or cellar.

Advice! In order for hot peppers in pods to last longer, they need to be left in a dark place and regularly sorted from spoiled fruits. You can keep hot peppers fresh for 1-2 months. Dried, ground, frozen fruits are stored for more than six months.

It must be remembered that properly prepared hot peppers for winter storage must be washed from the soil. The best way– place the pods in a basin with warm water, then rinse with cool water and dry with a towel. If the recipe calls for cutting the pod, you should cut the vegetable in two and get rid of the seeds.

How to preserve hot peppers for the winter

You can store vegetables in different ways. Let's consider the main ones in more detail.

Fresh storage

You can store hot peppers in fresh within 1-2 months. To do this, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

put the pods in a plastic bag and make holes;
put vegetables in small boxes with ventilation;
storage temperature 0+2 C or at room temperature +20 C, but shelf life will be lower;
optimal air humidity is 85-93%.

Freezing

Without refrigeration, the pods can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. If you want to extend the life of a vegetable, you can place it in freezer. Some of it is lost when stored in the freezer. useful properties, but the smell and taste of pepper remain.

Rules for preparing for freezing:

It is recommended to wear protective gloves when handling any hot vegetable;
rinse and cut in half. Be sure to remove the seeds;
cut into slices and place on a baking sheet or tray, leave in the freezer for half an hour;
transfer the vegetable to a bag or container and store it in the freezer.

If the pods are small in size, you can freeze them whole. The main thing is to rinse, get rid of seeds and dry. Can be stored frozen for a year. Defrost as needed and use for various dishes.

Dried storage

It is better to store hot peppers in pods in dry, dark and cool places where the vegetable will dry out naturally. Drying methods:

Thread the pods onto a thread using the footrests.
Another way is to tie the pods in bunches and string them on fishing line.
Dry the peppers directly on the whole bushes.

Once completely dry, hot peppers can be stored in the kitchen or on the balcony until the next harvest.

Canning

Pickling or canning hot peppers is great way diversify winter menu and prepare preserves with excellent taste. The main advantage is that there are no limits to your imagination; you can experiment with adding the amount of salt, sugar, and spices. We offer following recipes for canning hot peppers for the winter:

Marinade with vinegar. Sterilize glass containers selected volume, it is better to use a 1-liter jar. Fill it with chopped vegetables. In a separate pan, boil 400 ml of vinegar, add 5 tbsp. l. sugar, 3 tbsp. l. salt, 10 black peppercorns. Fresh greens, bay leaf can be added as desired. Pour the hot mixture over the vegetable so that there is 1-1.5 cm of free space left. Roll it up and place it upside down to cool, cover with a warm blanket on top.

Marinade with garlic. Place chopped hot peppers in a sterile container, add 5 black peas on top, a few chopped cloves of garlic, herbs, and bay leaves to taste. Add salt, sugar and 50 ml of vinegar to boiling water. Pour boiling water into a jar and roll up.
Western style. Take 1 kg of hot pepper, rinse, remove seeds and cut into slices. Prepare the marinade: 6 tbsp. sugar, 3 tbsp. l. salt, 0.25 liters of vinegar add to 1 liter of water and boil. Fill the jar with vegetables with brine and leave for 12 hours. After a while, you will notice how the marinade is absorbed into the pods. You need to add brine to liter jar add an aspirin tablet and roll up.

Storage in oil

You can preserve hot peppers for the winter by adding sunflower, olive oil. Thus, you can preserve all useful microelements and eat them for 3-4 months. Cooking steps:

wash the pods, remove seeds, cut into slices;
put in a liter jar and fill with warm oil;

To get a hotter pepper, you can leave the seeds. Close the jar plastic cover and let it brew for 2 weeks. After this you can eat it.

Grinding

Wash the pods, remove the seeds and cut into slices.
Place on a baking sheet and leave to dry in a natural way in the sun or dry in an oven at 50 C.
When the fruits are completely dry, grind them in a coffee grinder so that dust from the vegetable does not get into your eyes. If dust gets on your skin, immediately wash the area with soap and water.
Carefully pour into container and close with lid. Store in a dark place.

To extend the shelf life of hot peppers, you can pour the powder into small bags and put them in the freezer.

Some useful tips from experienced housewives By long-term storage hot pepper at home:

You can dry the pepper slices in the oven and not grind them, but put them in a jar. Use when preparing borscht, stew, stewed vegetables;
when you freeze peppers, you need to remove the air from the bag;
the vegetable is poorly stored in a room with high humidity;
can be marinated with other vegetables. For example, with tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants;
small pods can be preserved whole, without cutting into slices;
You can regulate the pungency of a vegetable as follows: if you pick an unripe pod, it will be less spicy, and vice versa, a ripe vegetable picked becomes very hot. Peppers that are stored with their seeds are even hotter.

Hot pepper - perfect spice for year-round use. It gives dishes a special touch spicy taste and amazing aroma a huge number dishes. The main thing is to learn how to store vegetables for the winter and store them in conditions convenient for them. Bon appetit!

Ground red pepper prepared from hot hot pepper. Depending on the type of vegetable used, the spice can be different, and its pungency can vary from mild to unbearable. The tropics of America are considered the historical homeland of the vegetable and similar spice. Today, countries with hot climates are engaged in the production of ground red pepper, as this is necessary for proper drying of the vegetable.

The process of obtaining the spice is simple. The pods are laid out in the sun and waited for all moisture to be removed. This will happen when the fruits become completely shriveled and light. They are then ground to a powder. If necessary, they are packaged and sent for sale. As you can see, no additional drugs or products were used, so the spice is as natural as possible.

How to select and store?

When choosing ground red pepper, keep in mind the fact that the highest quality and healthiest option is the one obtained from the pods along with the seeds. Thanks to this, the spice has an intense taste and color (red or orange-red) as in the photo. Therefore, buy whole, dried pods and grind them yourself. The fruits must be whole, without damage or stains. If you buy already ground red pepper, then keep in mind that a high-quality vegetable is difficult to grind, so the powder should be coarse, not finely ground.

Keep red ground pepper It needs to be in a closed container so that the heat is not transferred to other spices. The container should not come into contact with sunlight.

Useful properties

The benefits of ground red pepper are: chemical composition. When consumed, the spice improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which in turn contributes to better and faster digestion of food. It also has a positive effect on the activity of the pancreas. The beneficial effect of ground red pepper on the blood circulation process has been proven, as it cleanses blood vessels and increases their elasticity.

Spice has a positive effect on work cardiovascular system. Ground red pepper contains carotenoids, which help improve vision.

You can use ground red pepper for weight loss, as it improves metabolism and activates the fat burning process. The most important substance in the spice is capsaicin, which is responsible for its pungency and provides a number of beneficial properties. It has been proven that when regular use ground pepper cleanses blood vessels of cholesterol, which is an excellent prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Thanks to the availability large quantity B vitamins, improves activity nervous system, which in turn helps to cope with insomnia, fatigue and stress. The hot spice tones the entire body.

Ground red pepper has a beneficial effect on intestinal function, which helps improve microflora and get rid of constipation. Destroys hot seasoning and harmful bacteria that are in the intestines. With regular use, you can get rid of colic and bloating. It is useful to use hot spice for women, as it improves ovarian activity and normalizes menstrual cycle. For men, ground pepper is also necessary, as it increases potency and has a positive effect on the prostate.

It has been experimentally proven that capsaicin makes it easier to endure headaches and post-operative pain. Ground red pepper has also been shown to have antitumor effects.

Use in cosmetology

When consuming ground red pepper, you can notice an increase in hair growth, and it also becomes strong and shiny. In addition, the condition of the nails improves and they become stronger. Use ground hot pepper in anti-cellulite creams.

The benefits of ground red pepper and treatment

Ground red pepper is popular in recipes traditional medicine. It is used externally to treat vascular problems. In this case, the spice is used as compresses and pepper plasters. Special rubbings can be used to get rid of coughs and other problems with the bronchi and lungs. As a warming agent, ground pepper helps with rheumatism and arthritis.

Use in cooking

Ground red pepper is a popular spice used for cooking variety of dishes. The spice is best combined with meat, as it not only adds piquancy, but also promotes better absorption. You can add hot pepper to first and second courses, as well as to vegetables. In some countries, ground red pepper is used to prepare original desserts. The spice is used in marinades, sauces and numerous dressings that are suitable for various products.

To preserve the beneficial, taste and aroma characteristics, add ground red pepper 5 minutes before. until the dish is ready, and not into the plate itself. Combine a little pepper and cinnamon and add them to coffee, and in the end you will get a tonic drink. If you overdid it and put too much spice in a dish, then you should not drink water to get rid of the burning sensation, as it only increases the effect. Dairy products neutralize the effect of pepper.

Harm of ground red pepper and contraindications

Ground red pepper can be harmful to people with problems or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. For gastritis and ulcers, the spice is also prohibited. You should not use pepper if you have an individual intolerance to the product. It is not recommended to use ground pepper if you have high blood pressure or during periods of extreme heat. Pregnant women should avoid the spice.

Keep in mind that you took the spice with your hands, you should wash them thoroughly, since touching your eyes or other mucous membranes can cause serious irritation. You should not eat ground red pepper during your period, as this will increase the pain.