The chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum. They are well-known as the members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Chili peppers are widely utilized in almost every cuisine as a spice to feature heat to dishes. Capsaicin and its related compounds, known as capsaicinoids, are the substances that give chili pepper their intensity when ingested or applied topically.
If you enjoy spicy foods, there’s an honest chance that you’ve encounter chili a minimum of once in your life. It is edible at every stage and can be used from the seed to the full-grown chili pepper. This spicy vegetable is easy to grow and abundant everywhere on the earth. Chilies are especially popular in Mexican and Asian cuisine but are often added to almost any food to feature a pop of flavor and spice.
Types of Chilies
1. Carolina Reaper
Carolina Reaper is presently the hottest pepper in the world, which was certified by Guinness World Records on August 11, 2017.It measures over 2 Million Scoville Heat Units.
2. 7 Pot Douglah
This one is an extremely hot pepper belonging to Trinidad, an island 6.8 miles off Venezuela’s northeastern coast. It has dark chocolate brown skin, somewhat pimpled. In the beginning, it is green but turns a rich brown as it matures. 7 Pot Douglah is considered one of the hottest peppers in the world.
3. 7 Pot Primo
It is a cross between the above one and Naga Morich. This chili is named after the nickname of Troy Primeaux, who crossed these two types of chilies to create this hybrid.
4. 7 Pot Barrackpore
It is one of the hottest 7 Pot peppers that also comes from Trinidad. These pots are similar to a ghost pepper or a habanero.
5. African Bird’s Eye Pepper
Bird’s eye peppers are small (only 1 inch) hot peppers found in the African wild, measuring more than 175,000 heat units. These peppers have lots of health benefits and are used in hot sauces, soups, and more.
Following are some more popular types of chilies:
- Aji Amarillo
- Ancho Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Barker’s Hot Chili Pepper
- Bishop’s Crown Pepper
- Bolivian Rainbow Chili
- Calabrian Chili
- Poblano
- Guajillo
- Jalapeño
- Chipotle
- Serrano
- Habanero
Best Chili Dishes
Chili Con Carne
Chili con carne, meaning “fleshy pepper or chili with meat,” is perhaps the common denominator among many good-hearted chilies. The dish consists of meat such as beef, pork, or venison mixed with a variety of peppers and tomatoes, beans, and onions cooked on a Stovetop or Instant Pot.
White Chicken Chili
This is different from traditional chili con carne because it is made with white beans, chicken, and small green peppers. It is usually milder than other chili recipes and has a creamy base. However, itis thickened with sour cream or white cheese, like Monterey Jack sometimes.
Vegetarian Chili
Vegetable chili is as traditional as chili con carne — but made without meat. Some vegetarian recipes will include other types of beans such as kidney, cannellini, or black beans in the recipe, while others add meat ingredients such as tofu or tempeh to mimic meat texture.
Cincinnati Chili
The Cincinnati chili (also known as the Skyline chili) is one of Ohio’s most popular regional dishes. It is different because it is sweeter than traditional chili and is flavored with cinnamon, chocolate, allspice, and Worcestershire. This type of chili is always served on a bed of cooked spaghetti.
Texas Chili
Do not mess when it comes to Texas. The Texans are very clear about how true Texas is defined. It is made without vegetables other than boiled, peeled, and chopped peppers. Also, Texas chili does not include beans or tomatoes.
Turkey Chili
Turkey chili is a classic chili con carne made of lean ground turkey instead ofbeef. This recipe is quite popular among those who like the taste of the traditional chili.
Chili Verde
This “green chili” is popular throughout the Southwest, butit is especially loved in New Mexico and Colorado. It is often made with pork and includes roasted green chili, garlic, oregano, cumin, and tomatillos.
Black Bean Chili
Black bean chili relies heavily on black beans than other types of beans. Some recipes for black beans include vegetables, while others consist of ground pieces of beef or bite-sized steaks.
Health Benefits
Chili powder and chili peppers are mostly used for food flavors, while spicy chilies, in particular, may be reserved for the dares. But the secret behind the bitter taste of these vegetables is the variety of health benefits you should be aware of. Following are the top benefits of chili:
1. Reduce Illness
If you are the type of person who drinks orange juice when sick, you already know the importance of Vitamin C when it comes to strengthening your immune system.
Studies show that, while Vitamin C may not completely prevent the common cold, taking too much Vitamin C when you are sick can shorten your illness. Working to serve, chilies are loaded with more Vitamin C than oranges. So, if orange juice is not your thing, you may feel better about eating chili.
2. Prevent Heart Disease
Because spicy foods are often associated with heartburn, you may worry about eating peppers if you have problems with your heart. But heartache is boring and has nothing to do with your heart.
In fact, when it comes to preventing heart disease, spicy foods can be just what your body needs. Studies show that capsaicin in hot peppers can reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease.
3. Increase Weight Loss
If you are worried about your weight, you might be happy to know that chili peppers can promote weight loss.
Some studies show that capsaicin pepper can reduce appetite, while other studies show that peppers can boost metabolism and help you burn calories. While eating peppers alone may not lead to significant changes in your weight, using them in accordance with your doctor-approved weight loss plan can help you see results faster.
How to Prepare Chili Pepper and Chili Powder?
One of the best things about peppers is how easy they are to add to your diet. You don’t have to like spicy food to add peppers to your diet. Over time, you can improve even more tolerance of chilihotness.
Some ideas for adding cooked peppers to your favorite food include:
- Putting sliced chili peppers in burgers
- Adding uncooked chili peppers to a small sandwich
- Making spicy Chile Con Carne with cooked chili peppers
- Coating the chili peppersand mixing them with mac and cheese
- Stirring the peppercorns into the salads
Chili powder greatly increases the number of ways you can use chili. Chili powder can be:
- Used to make meat season
- Sprinkle with pasta sauce
- Cooked with ground beef for tacos or fajitas
- Sprinkle with vegetables to give them a spicy aroma
Nutritional Profile
Chili peppers are not just loaded with spices, butthey are also loaded with nutrients. Some of the major nutrients you will find in chili peppers include:
- Vitamin A
- Dietary Fiber
- Iron
Nutrition per Serving
The cup portion of canned green peppers without seeds includes:
- Calories: 14
- Sodium: 798 mg
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Proteins: 1 g
- Fats: 0 g
Things to Look For
Chili peppers are not good for everyone. In some people, especially the ones with irritable bowel syndrome, chili can cause diarrhea and rectal pain. To avoid the side effects of chili, reduce your intake of chili peppers or eat less at a time. In addition to that, you should better opt for milder chili rather than the ones with higher heat units.
Conclusion
All that is said, the next time you are having your food, consider adding a dash of chili peppers. With these hot peppers added, a little can go a long way. Therefore, a slight burning sensation in your tongue or a puffy eye may be worth its amazing health benefits.If you are looking for a natural way to deal with some of your health problems, chili peppersare the way to go.
The best thing is you can try out different types of peppers and choose the one according to your liking and taste.