Selection :Buy fresh, green, firm uniform sized peppers featuring smooth shiny skin and blunt ends. It is fine to have white markings at the shoulder ends for jalapenos. Avoid dry, wilt, and pods with cracks, cuts and surface bruising.
Storage :At home, store them in the vegetable compartment inside the refrigerator set at high relative humidity. They keep well for up to a week. Pickled jalapenos can be stored for several months when stored inside the refrigerator.
Vitamins like A,C are found in high amounts and Chillies are also good in B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them from external sources to replenish.
Minerals
Chillies contain a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
Strengthens immunity to diseases :Chillies helps you open up your blocked nostrils. The Vitamin C in green chillies strengthens your natural immunity to diseases.
Used in Medicines :Green chilli is mainly used as a spice in food, although it is included in some medicines.
Vitamin A and its uses :The most abundant nutrient in green chilli is vitamin A, according to World's Healthiest Foods. The vitamin is a carotenoid, also known as retinal, associated with the antioxidant beta-carotene. Vitamin A is essential for the health and maintenance of bones, teeth, mucous membranes, eyes and skin,
Retina pigmentation :This A vitamin in green chilli is essential for healthy eyes, as it produces retina pigmentation and promotes NIGHT VISION. Vitamin A deficiencies result in weakened vision and immunity.
Anti-oxidant :Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is the second most abundant nutrient in green chilli. It acts as both an antioxidant and a vitamin too.
Essential for :It is essential for the formation of COLLAGEN, scar tissue, ligaments, blood vessels and tendons.
Fight infections :It also helps the body to maintain and repair wounds, bones, teeth and cartilage. As an antioxidant, it strengthens overall health and helps the body fight infections.
Rich in dietary fibre :Green chillies are rich in dietary fibre which is important for a healthy digestive system.
Boon to Diabetics : Green chillies are responsible of reduction in blood sugar levels and can be a boon to DIABETICS.
Good Anti-Depressant :Capsaicin (in green chilli) can be an anti-depressant as it releases endorphins ( hormones for good mood ) into the brain.
Anti-bacterial property :The anti-bacterial property of green chillies help keep our body worm free.
Skin care : Green chillies being good anti-oxidants, are good for skin as they help fight against ACNE and pimples. So,aleastL have a small pod of chilli everyday along with your food .
Good Body : Green chilli peppers are also rich in Vitamin E that is essential for producing certain natural skin oils. So, having spicy food can actually give you good body.
About the Vegetable :Chilli plant is a perennial small shrub with woody stem growing up to a meter height and bears white coloured flowers. The pods are very variable in size, shape, colour, and pungency. Depending on the cultivar type, they range from the mild, fleshy, Mexican bell peppers to the tiny, fiery, finger-like Chilli peppers, commonly grown in Indian subcontinent. Chilli peppers, despite their fiery “hotness” are one of very popular spices known for medicinal and health benefiting properties. The Chilli is actually a fruit pod from the plant belonging to the nightshade family of Solanaceae.Interiorly, each fruit features numerous tiny, white, or cream coloured, circular and flat seeds. The seeds are actually clinging around the central white-placenta.
Scientific / Binomial name : Capsicum annum
Popularly Known as :Chilli pepper, Hatch chilli, Chile pepper, Pachhi mirapakaya, Hasi menasinakayi
Usage :
Green chillies are used in many forms for Cooking. It is used in the form of Paste,Dried Powder etc.
Chopped peppers are being used in the preparation of chilli sauce, pizzas, rolls, and in variety of dishes using fish, meat and chicken in many Central American and European regions.
Hot chillies used as a condiment in the preparation of soups, chilli sauce, spicy water, vinegar-spice mix, etc.
Culinary Used Areas :Fresh raw bell peppers and other sweet, mild variety peppers are being used as vegetables in cuisines in many parts of the world.The Chilli pepper features heavily in the cuisine of the Goan region of India, which was the site of a Portuguese colony (e.g., vindaloo, an Indian interpretation of a Portuguese dish). Chillii peppers journeyed from India,through Central Asia and Turkey, to Hungary, where they became the national spice in the form of paprika.