Red peppers

Red peppers (also known as bell peppers or sweet peppers) are crisp, sweet vegetables native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They have shiny red skin and flesh. Red bell peppers are simply ripened green peppers. Green peppers are mature but not yet ripe. Red, yellow and orange peppers are all different varieties.

They are related to chillis but they do not produce capsaicin (the ingredient that creates a hot burning sensation).

Red peppers are incredibly good for you and delicious raw or cooked. They add juiciness and crunch to stir-fries. When roasted red peppers soften and can be blended into a paste which can be used as a pasta sauce, added to hummus or made into soup.

Raw sliced red peppers make a great portable snack, they can be added to salads and they make great pizza toppings!

Meal suggestion – Roasted red pepper and tomato soup

Nutritional information

There are about 40 calories per 100g of red peppers.

Red peppers are packed full health benefiting vitamins. They contain more than 200% of your daily vitamin C intake! Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron and is a strong antioxidant.

They are also high in vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate. Vitamin B6 and folate can also help prevent you from developing anaemia.