Hot peper Piri Piri originates from America, but was brought to Africa by Portuguese sailors. There, this hot pepper became part of the well-known Piri Piri spice mix, which is also used in the form of an oil. From Africa, the Portuguese took this spice mix back to Portugal, where it has since become a very popular part of the national cuisine. Hot pepper Piri Piri, and especially the spice mix made with it, is now spreading throughout the rest of the world. Piri Piri is Swahili for “pepper pepper”, also known in other languages as Pili Pili or Peri Peri. The plant can grow quite large, normally around 120 centimetres or more. The hot peppers are small, about 4 cm, and taper to a blunt point. The hot peppers ripen from green to red. These hot peppers are hotter than the average chilli pepper. Nowadays, there are various products and spice mixes available under the name Piri Piri, but these usually have little to do with the original recipe for this mix and often don't contain hot pepper Piri Piri.
Chilli peppers are the fruits of the pepper plant. They are related to the pepper. Pepper originates from Central America and South America. It was spread all over the world by the Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch. They grow best under sufficient heat. In the living room or in an unheated greenhouse in our climate (the Netherlands). Another name for chilli pepper is hot pepper, red pepper, Spanish pepper and Lombok. Chillies come in many different sizes and colours. For example big, small, red, yellow, white, purple, brown, orange and green. Chillies can be eaten fresh, dried, in powder or as flakes. You can dry chillies yourself by hanging them upside down in a dry, warm and well ventilated room or by drying them in a very lukewarm oven (70 °C) and in a special drying cabinet. Pepper powder is also called cayenne powder and chilli powder. Chillies contain many healthy nutrients such as capsicum, capsaicin, bioflavonoids, vitamins and minerals. Capsicum is also used in medicines to treat, for example, a runny nose and colds. Capsaicin is the substance in peppers that makes them so pungent. Pepper also helps to prevent diseases such as colds, arteriosclerosis, heart disease and inflammation. Pepper also has an analgesic effect, gives a feeling of happiness, helps against sinusitis, colds, inflammations, cardiovascular diseases, arteriosclerosis and against cold feet in the winter.
Pepper is very healthy and versatile. It contains, among others, the vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, E and K. And the minerals: phosphorus, iron, potassium, copper, manganese and magnesium. It also contains many antioxidants such as: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthins, lutein and zeaxanthin. You can boil, steam, stew, grill, bake, use in oven dishes, in stews, add finely chopped to salads and raw vegetables, barbeque, wok and add to Indonesian, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Moroccan and other dishes. You can also make sambal, chilli jam and chilli sauce from chillies. You can also add chillies to sauces, soups and other dishes which can use some spice. Chillies also contain carbohydrates, protein, fibre and few calories. Chillies are delicious in combination with: minced meat, beef, pork, chicken, lamb, chocolate, cocoa, rice, noodles, pasta, olive oil, ginger, soy sauce, cumin, coriander, chives, basil, thyme, rosemary, paprika, butter, apple, curry, parsley, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, cheese, Parmesan cheese, mustard, coconut milk, milk, tomato puree, oregano, red wine, cinnamon sticks, gingerbread, apple syrup, lemon and lime. And with vegetables such as: leeks, onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spring onions, shallots, lentils, chickpeas, green beans, snow peas, red cabbage, cucumber, mushrooms, pointed cabbage, white cabbage, kidney beans, brown beans, bean sprouts and lettuce. Be careful not to eat too many hot peppers. It can cause stomach problems such as heartburn. Also, after cleaning and cutting hot peppers, do not touch your eyes with your hands. Chili peppers can also help you lose weight. Hot food is more likely to make you feel full. And chilli gives your metabolism a boost. Hot food makes you feel hot and this speeds up your metabolism. As a result, you burn more calories. Fresh red peppers can be kept in the vegetable compartment of the fridge for 5-7 days. You can also keep peppers in a glass jar filled with olive oil. In this way, the peppers can be kept for months (5 - 6). You can also freeze them. Cut the stalks from the chillies. Wash them well and freeze them whole, in this way you can keep them for about 12 months. Non hardy perennial. Scoville units: 50.000 - 175.000. Height: 100 - 120 cm.
