Banana pepper

Last updated
Banana pepper
Banana Peppers (Armenia).jpg
Armenian banana peppers
Species Capsicum annuum
Heat Chilli05.svg Mild
Scoville scale 0–500 SHU

The banana pepper (also known as the yellow wax pepper or banana chili) is a medium-sized member of the chili pepper family that has a mild, tangy taste. While typically bright yellow, it is possible for them to change to green, red, or orange as they ripen. [1] It is often pickled, stuffed or used as a raw ingredient in foods. It is a cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum . Its flavor is not very hot (0–500 Scoville units) and, as is the case with most peppers, its heat depends on the maturity of the pepper, with the ripest being sweeter than younger ones.

Contents

Nomenclature

Banana pepper plant Ripe Banana Pepper Plant.jpg
Banana pepper plant
Banana peppers Banana Peppers.jpg
Banana peppers

A mature fruit will be about 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) in length and have a curved shape and yellowish colour similar to a banana, giving rise to the fruit's common name. Friggitelli (pepperoncini) are often erroneously referred to as banana peppers. [2] The hot varieties of banana pepper are called Hungarian wax peppers. [3]

Cultivation

The plant requires full sun, like other Capsicum annuum varieties, and should be treated the same as most other plants in the pepper family. Plants can be grown from seed and cuttings. A mature plant will reach 1 to 2 feet tall and can be grown in many climates, but prefers warmer climates. Cultivars include Early Sweet Banana, Hungarian Yellow Wax, Long Sweet Yellow, Sweet Banana, and Sweet Hungarian. [3]

Nutritional information

Pepper, banana, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g
Energy 113 kJ (27 kcal)
5.3 g
Sugars 1.9 g
Dietary fiber 3.4 g
Fat
.5 g
Polyunsaturated .2 g
1.7 g
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins Quantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
2%
17 μg
2%
184 μg
Thiamine (B1)
8%
0.1 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
4%
0.05 mg
Niacin (B3)
8%
1.2 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
5%
0.27 mg
Vitamin B6
21%
0.36 mg
Folate (B9)
7%
29 μg
Vitamin C
92%
82.7 mg
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
1%
14 mg
Iron
3%
0.5 mg
Magnesium
4%
17 mg
Manganese
4%
0.1 mg
Phosphorus
3%
32 mg
Potassium
9%
256 mg
Zinc
3%
0.3 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water91.8 g
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [4] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [5]

Raw banana peppers contain 92% water, 5% carbohydrates, and negligible fat and protein (table). They are rich sources of vitamin C, containing 92% of the Daily Value (DV) in a 100 gram reference amount (table). Vitamin B6 is present in substantial content of 21% DV, with no other micronutrients in appreciable amounts (table).

Uses

Culinary

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooking banana</span> Banana cultivars commonly used in cooking

Cooking bananas are a group of starchy banana cultivars in the genus Musa whose fruits are generally used in cooking. They are not eaten raw and generally starchy. Many cooking bananas are referred to as plantains or 'green bananas'. In botanical usage, the term "plantain" is used only for true plantains, while other starchy cultivars used for cooking are called "cooking bananas". True plantains are cooking cultivars belonging to the AAB group, while cooking bananas are any cooking cultivar belonging to the AAB, AAA, ABB, or BBB groups. The currently accepted scientific name for all such cultivars in these groups is Musa × paradisiaca. Fe'i bananas from the Pacific Islands are often eaten roasted or boiled, and are thus informally referred to as "mountain plantains", but they do not belong to any of the species from which all modern banana cultivars are descended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell pepper</span> Group of fruits of Capsicum annuum

The bell pepper is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species Capsicum annuum. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange, green, white, chocolate, candy cane striped, and purple. Bell peppers are sometimes grouped with less pungent chili varieties as "sweet peppers". While they are botanically fruits—classified as berries—they are commonly used as a vegetable ingredient or side dish. Other varieties of the genus Capsicum are categorized as chili peppers when they are cultivated for their pungency, including some varieties of Capsicum annuum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chili pepper</span> Varieties of peppers belonging to several species of Capsicum genus

Chili peppers, also spelled chile or chilli, are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for their pungency. Chili peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add "heat" to dishes. Capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids are the substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically. Chili peppers exhibit a range of heat and flavors. This diversity is the reason behind the availability of different types of paprika and chili powder, each offering its own taste and heat level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banana chip</span> Chip made of banana

A banana chip is a deep-fried or dried, generally crispy slice of banana. It is usually made from firmer, starchier banana varieties like the saba and Nendran cultivars. It can be sweet or savory and can be covered with sugar, honey, salt, or various spices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalapeño</span> Hot pepper

The jalapeño is a medium-sized chili pepper pod type cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum. A mature jalapeño chili is 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 25–38 mm wide, and hangs down from the plant. The pungency of jalapeño peppers varies, but is usually between 4,000 and 8,500 units on the Scoville scale. Commonly picked and consumed while still green, it is occasionally allowed to fully ripen and turn red, orange, or yellow. It is wider and generally milder than the similar Serrano pepper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimiento</span> Cultivar of Capsicum annuum

A pimiento or pimento or cherry pepper is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper that measures 3 to 4 in long and 2 to 3 in wide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapini</span> Species of edible plant

Rapini is a green cruciferous vegetable, with the leaves, buds, and stems all being edible; the buds somewhat resemble broccoli. Rapini is known for its bitter taste, and is particularly associated with Mediterranean cuisine. It is a particularly rich dietary source of vitamin K.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bok choy</span> Subspecies of flowering plant

Bok choy, pak choi or pok choi is a type of Chinese cabbage, used as food. Chinensis varieties do not form heads and have green leaf blades with lighter bulbous bottoms instead, forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard greens. It has a flavor between spinach and water chestnuts but is slightly sweeter, with a mildly peppery undertone. The green leaves have a stronger flavor than the white bulb.

<i>Capsicum annuum</i> Species of flowering plant in the nightshade family

Capsicum annuum, commonly known as paprika, chili pepper, red pepper, sweet pepper, jalapeño, cayenne, or bell pepper, is a fruiting plant from the family Solanaceae (nightshades), within the genus Capsicum which is native to the northern regions of South America and to southwestern North America. The plant produces berries of many colors including red, green, and yellow, often with pungent taste. It is also one of the oldest cultivated crops, with domestication dating back to around 6,000 years ago in regions of Mexico. The genus Capsicum has over 30 species but Capsicum annuum is the primary species in its genus, as it has been widely cultivated for human consumption for a substantial amount of time and has spread across the world. This species has many uses in culinary applications, medicine, self defense, and can even be ornamental.

<i>Capsicum chinense</i> Species of flowering plant

Capsicum chinense, commonly known as a "habanero-type pepper", is a species of chili pepper native to the Americas. C. chinense varieties are well known for their unique flavors and, in many cases, exceptional heat. The hottest peppers in the world are members of this species, with a Scoville Heat Unit score of 2.69 million measured in the C. chinense cultivar, Pepper X in 2023.

Peppadew is a trademarked brand name of South African food company Peppadew International (Pty) Ltd. for a pickled version of the Juanita pepper. Peppadew International produces and markets a variety of food products under the Peppadew brand, including jalapeño peppers, Goldew peppers, pickled onions, hot sauces, pasta sauces and relishes, but is best known for its sweet piquanté pepper grown in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serrano pepper</span> Type of chili pepper

The serrano pepper is a type of chili pepper that originated in the mountainous regions of the Mexican states of Puebla and Hidalgo. The Scoville rating of the serrano pepper is 10,000 to 25,000. The name of the pepper is a reference to the mountains (sierras) of these regions. The pepper is commonly used to make hot sauces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siling labuyo</span> Chili pepper cultivar

Siling labuyo is a small chili pepper cultivar that developed in the Philippines after the Columbian Exchange. It belongs to the species Capsicum frutescens and is characterized by triangular fruits that grow pointing upwards. The fruits and leaves are used in traditional Philippine cuisine. The fruit is pungent, ranking at 80,000 to 100,000 heat units in the Scoville Scale.

<i>Friggitello</i> Italian sweet pepper

The friggitello is a sweet Italian chili pepper of the species Capsicum annuum. It is also known as the "Golden Greek pepper", "Sweet Italian pepper", or "Tuscan pepper". In the United States they may be called "pepperoncini"; they are quite distinct from Italian peperoncini, which are hot Italian chili peppers. The friggitello is mild with a slight heat and a hint of bitterness, and is sometimes pickled and sold in jars. In Italy the friggitello is most associated with the region of Tuscany. The Greek variety, which is sweeter, is commonly used elsewhere in Europe and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresno chile</span> Cultivar of New Mexico chile pepper

The Fresno chile or Fresno chili pepper is a medium-sized cultivar of Capsicum annuum. It should not be confused with the Fresno Bell pepper. It is often confused with the jalapeño pepper but has thinner walls, often has milder heat, and takes less time to mature. It is, however, a Fresno County chile, which is genetically distinct from the jalapeño and it grows point up, rather than point down as with the jalapeño. The fruit starts out bright green changing to orange and red as fully matured. A mature Fresno pepper will be conical in shape, 50 mm (2 in) long, and about 25 mm (1 in) in diameter at the stem. The plants do well in warm to hot temperatures and dry climates with long sunny summer days and cool nights. They are very cold-sensitive and disease resistant, reaching a height of 60–75 cm (24–30 in).

<i>Capsicum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their edible fruit, which are generally known as "peppers" or "capsicum". Sweet or bell peppers and some chili peppers belong to the Capsicum annuum species, making it the most cultivated species from the genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paprika</span> Spice made from red peppers

Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from Capsicum annuum varietals in the Longum group, including chili peppers. Paprika can have varying levels of heat, but the chili peppers used for hot paprika tend to be milder and have thinner flesh than those used to produce chili powder. In some languages, but not English, the word paprika also refers to the plant and the fruit from which the spice is made, as well as to peppers in the Grossum group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cayenne pepper</span> Hot chili pepper used to flavor dishes

The cayenne pepper is a type of Capsicum annuum. It is usually a hot chili pepper used to flavor dishes. Cayenne peppers are a group of tapering, 10 to 25 cm long, generally skinny, mostly red-colored peppers, often with a curved tip and somewhat rippled skin, which hang from the bush as opposed to growing upright. Most varieties are generally rated at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Habanaga</span> Chili pepper cultivar

The Habanaga is a cultivar of the chili pepper Capsicum chinense. This pepper was developed in New Mexico when a university student unintentionally crossed a Habanero and a Bhut Jolokia.

References

  1. Andrews, Jean (2000). The peppers cookbook: 200 recipes from the pepper lady's kitchen. University of North Texas Press. p. 11. ISBN   1574411934. OCLC   57594932.
  2. Thompson, Kat (2019-05-13). "13 Peppers You Need to Know". Thrillist. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  3. 1 2 Jean Andrews (1995). Peppers: The Domesticated Capsicums, New Edition. University of Texas Press. p. 97. ISBN   978-0-292-70467-1 . Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  4. United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN   978-0-309-48834-1. PMID   30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  6. Creasy, Rosalind (2000). The edible pepper garden. Periplus. p. 51. ISBN   9625932968. OCLC   473935012.
  7. "Chilli Bajji or Milagai Bajji or Mirchi Bajji : how to make bajji ; bajji recipe".