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Cindy Silver, Registered Dietitian, LLC

Sweet Red Peppers and 3 Ways to Enjoy Them

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Red Peppers of Spain
These peppers are more than 6 inches long and really delicious!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the sweet red peppers of Spain!

Then I started seeing these beauties in every vegetable market and grocery store I visited around Salamanca, where I’m living this fall. Sweet red peppers are called ‘Pimientos‘ in Spanish and I’m learning that they are a very important ingredient in every Spanish kitchen, restaurant, and tapas bar.

How to Use Sweet Red Peppers – 3 Ways

The natural sweetness of Spanish pimientos – sweet red peppers – brings bright flavors to all kinds of things.

Here are a few examples:

  1. Wash, cut into strips and dip into hummus or an aioli sauce. In Spain, aioli sauce is widely used and it’s easy to make from mashed garlic, salt, pepper, mayonnaise or Greek yogurt, and lemon juice.
  2. Wash, cut up, and add to your tossed salad. The splash of color and crunch is great.
  3. Wash, dice into small pieces, and then saute in a generous amount of quality extra virgin olive oil. Set the burner to medium to get the peppers started cooking and then lower the heat to low as they ‘simmer’ in the oil. Allow 45 minutes for the peppers to soften and the oil to infuse into them. Cool and use as a condiment for a Spanish Tortilla omelet or spoon onto a slice of bread.

How to Use Roasted Sweet Red Peppers – 3 More Ways

In Spain, a tapas restaurant uses roasted red sweet peppers in many ways, such as these — and, you can too!

  1. On top of a slice of fresh, crusty bread with local cheese. The salty-sweet flavors are very tasty.
  2. On top of a slice of fresh, crusty bread with sardines. The savory-sweet flavors are very satisfying.
  3. On top of a slice of fresh, crusty bread with pork. The meaty-sweet flavors are very ‘Spain.’

Why to Use Sweet Red Peppers

The entire family of peppers – green, red, sweet, spicy – are full of nutrition such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber and they have few calories. Fill up for awesome flavor and satisfaction. Nearly everyone likes sweet peppers and they are a smart purchase at your food market.

For ideas on how to include more plant foods, like sweet peppers, in your everyday meals and snacks, grab my free report about Easy Mediterranean Menus and Recipes. Then, take a quick look at my eBook about Vegetarian Menus and Shopping Lists, too.

How will you make a sweet red pepper into a tasty snack?

 

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