martin-a — Dec 2nd, 2021 Categories: Dried vegetables
Tags: Dried peppers
Dishes with bell pepper have an exquisite taste, pleasant aroma and acquire a beautiful appearance. How to prepare bell peppers for the winter so that they do not lose their vitamins, taste and color? A solution has been found - you need to know how to dry bell peppers at home. This will allow you to enjoy the aroma and taste of this vegetable all year round. Moreover, preparing it for the winter is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Dried sweet bell peppers will allow you to saturate your dishes with vitamins and beneficial minerals, which are contained in large quantities in this fruit, even in winter.
Ingredients: bell pepper Time for bookmarking: Summer, Autumn
Benefits of harvesting dried sweet peppers
The method of preserving vegetables and fruits for the winter by drying is especially popular due to the fact that the product preserves vitamins, micro- and macroelements.
Sweet peppers, unfortunately, cannot be stored fresh for a long time, so this method of preparation is best suited.
The chopped and dried pieces are placed in plastic or glass jars and added to food as needed. During the cooking process, the flakes swell under the influence of moisture.
Dried paprika can be ground into powder. The result is an environmentally friendly product, no worse than store-bought seasonings.
Winter storage of hot peppers
For the winter, capsicums can be harvested raw in order to preserve as much nutrients, vitamins and minerals as possible.
Yes, with this method, by mid-spring its pungency gradually decreases, but the taste still remains wonderful, so the benefits are enormous.
Every housewife has her favorite recipes for storing hot peppers.
It is important to use them correctly
Method 1
For 1 kilogram of spicy vegetable - half a glass of apple or wine vinegar (consistency 5-6 percent), 1 tablespoon of salt (it is important to take non-iodized). Choose a ripe pod (the spicy ones can be green, yellow or red, but the latter is considered to be more pungent)
Choose a ripe pod (the spicy one can be green, yellow or red, but the latter is considered to be more pungent).
Wash it, remove the stalks, but do not remove the seeds, then pass through a meat grinder with a large grid. Add salt, pour vinegar, mix everything thoroughly.
Place in jars up to the neck, and then close with plastic lids. Store in a dry and dark place where the temperature is always low.
Method 2
Wash the hot peppers and dry them on a paper napkin.
Take a plastic bag, put peppercorns in it and put it in the freezer.
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Beneficial features
Dried pepper, however, like fresh pepper, has a lot of beneficial properties that its rich chemical composition gives it.
Product contains:
- vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, PP;
- minerals: magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese.
Ascorbic acid makes it easier to tolerate viral diseases in winter.
Vitamin A improves the condition of skin, hair, nails, and has a beneficial effect on vision. B vitamins are indispensable for the cardiovascular and circulatory systems. Fiber promotes rapid digestion of food and removal of toxins from the body. Dried paprika has a beneficial effect on the body when:
- disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diabetes mellitus;
- periodontal disease;
- anemia;
- fragility of blood vessels;
- memory impairment, loss of strength, constant fatigue due to stress;
- vitamin deficiency.
Moderate consumption of the seasoning relieves flatulence, colitis, cramps, speeds up metabolism and reduces weight. Sweet paprika, unlike hot pepper, does not cause inflammatory processes in the gastric mucosa. Therefore, it can be consumed in larger quantities without fear.
Important ! Doctors recommend caution in introducing dried pepper into the diet in case of pathologies of the liver, kidneys, pancreatitis and allergic reactions.
Storage conditions for hot peppers
It is better to store red pepper in pods in a dark and dry place where there is good ventilation, and grind it as needed (ground still loses its pungency, color and aroma faster).
It must be handled with special care: even when using the pods themselves, dust is produced that has a highly irritating effect on the mucous membrane (especially the eyes and nose) and skin. It can easily cause intense watery eyes, swelling of the face and sneezing.
And if you eat a significant amount of it uncontrollably, you can get an acute gastrointestinal disorder.
How to dry bell peppers at home for the winter
Paprika is dried using:
- electric dryer;
- oven;
- microwaves;
- fresh air and sunshine.
The product is taken out into the open air in dry, sunny weather. The trays are covered with gauze to protect them from dust and flies. In such conditions, the slices reach readiness in 3-7 days, depending on humidity and air temperature.
For example, at +30°C, three days are enough to dry paprika.
In the oven and electric dryer, set the temperature to no more than 50-55°C. Cooking time is 12-24 hours. It all depends on the thickness of the pieces.
In an electric dryer
To dry paprika in an electric dryer, follow these steps:
- Place the product in trays.
- Select a temperature of 50-55°C and turn on the device.
- At the end of cooking, turn off the dryer and leave the peppers in it until they cool completely.
Place the strips in glass containers and close with lids. If desired, they can be ground into flour.
In the oven
To dry paprika in the oven:
- Line a baking tray with baking paper and spread the slices in a thin layer.
- Set the temperature to 50-60°C and place the baking sheet inside.
- Keep the door slightly open to allow steam to escape freely.
- Stir the pieces from time to time.
- After 3-4 hours, turn off the oven. Don't close the door.
- The next day, stir the slices and turn the oven back on. The temperature is the same.
- Cook the peppers until tender. It may take more time.
Important ! Before cutting the peppers, they must first be blanched for 3-5 minutes.
In the sun
How to dry paprika in the sun:
- Place the product on trays and cover with gauze.
- Monitor readiness by stirring the pieces from time to time.
Whole peppers are dried in the open air. To do this, the core and tail are removed. The fruits are strung on a thick thread and hung under a roof or in a dry place. In an apartment, this can be done over a gas oven. You can also place the peppers on a windowsill with access to sunlight.
Bundles of dried peppers will become an additional decoration in the kitchen. The product is stored in linen bags or glass containers with lids.
Pepper dried in the open air retains more nutrients. The aroma of the product is pronounced.
In the microwave
To dry peppers in the microwave:
- Spread the sliced peppers on a plate in a thin layer.
- Cook for 2 minutes at 200-300 W.
- Open the door from time to time to check the condition of the product.
- After the beep, open the door and stir the pieces. Repeat the process if necessary.
- If you smell something burning, reduce the power.
Basic Rules
We have previously talked about how to dry hot chili peppers at home. Now let's talk about how to dry bell peppers for the winter.
Peppers are dried using electric, gas appliances or using free ancient methods of preparing food for future use using the sun and fresh air .
How to prepare sweet peppers for drying? Having thoroughly rinsed the fruits under running water, each one is wiped from excess moisture and freed from signs of spoilage , tail and core. The crumbled seeds stuck inside the vegetable are shaken out by tapping the wide edge on the palm or table surface.
But even if a few seeds remain, the taste of the finished product will not deteriorate , and the cooking time will not increase. After peeling a batch of vegetables, they are cut into quarters and then crumbled into strips 3-4 mm thick.
What to dry sweet bell peppers in? Dried crushed pepper:
- in electric dryers,
- in electric and gas ovens,
- in the microwave,
- on pallets placed in a shaded area.
At what temperature should you dry bell peppers? Raw materials can be dried in air at any positive temperature, in the absence of high humidity (at night, trays with pepper should be covered or brought into a dry room).
In the oven and electric dryer for peppers, select a fifty-degree mode , maintaining this temperature until the slices are brought to the desired condition
How long does to dry? When drying under natural conditions, when the air warms up to 30 degrees Celsius or more during the day, it will take 3-4 days . At lower temperatures - 5-7 days . At 50 degrees Celsius, crushed pepper will reach the desired condition in 12-24 hours . The cooking time depends on the volume being processed and the thickness of the slices.
How to determine readiness ? Well-dried paprika strips break easily rather than bend. If the flesh of the pieces is in the same condition as dried dates, then the raw materials still need to be dried .
How to dry bell peppers at home? Tips for drying and storing peppers in this video:
Storage of the finished product
Glass or metal jars, fabric bags and paper bags are used to store dried paprika.
If you plan to store the product in a glass container, choose a place protected from direct sunlight. Linen bags are used if the humidity level in the kitchen is low.
Sun-dried peppers must be heated in a hot frying pan or oven for disinfection before packaging. To do this, heat the oven to a temperature of 100°C, then turn it off and leave the pepper in it until it cools completely.
How to check readiness
Readiness is checked by appearance. The finished pepper will have a mesh on its skin, it will darken slightly, and the flesh will become three times smaller. The slices become slightly dry, but elastic. If the slices are not pliable by the end of the recommended cooking time, let them dry for another 10-15 minutes.
If the pieces become brittle and crumble, they have dried out.
Use of dried pepper in cooking
Dried aromatic paprika goes perfectly with other vegetables, pork, beef, chicken, turkey and fish. It is used in stews, sauces, marinades, gravies, and fried for first courses.
Advice . Place the preparation in the cold for 20 minutes to swell and add to soups, borscht, and stewed cabbage at the end of cooking.
Dried paprika is added to bread dough along with flax seeds, sesame seeds and herbs. It is used to make homemade seasonings for a variety of dishes, combining them with ground black pepper, turmeric, dried parsley, dill, celery, basil, garlic, and bay leaf.
Dried ground bell peppers are actively used in Mediterranean, European, and Asian cuisines. For example, the famous Hungarian paprikash is difficult to imagine without aromatic paprika, where it is added in fresh and dried form. Feta cheese is rolled in ground pepper and marinated in olive oil.
Preparing the vegetable
Before drying, you need to select suitable peppers. They should have a sweet taste and a bright red or yellow color. Peppers not suitable for drying:
- Overripe;
- Wrinkled;
- With spots on the skin.
Remove thin films and seeds. If you dry it without the skin, the pepper will acquire a richer and more delicate taste. To quickly remove the skin, you need to immerse the pepper in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then cool in cold water for 2-3 minutes. Using a knife, carefully pry the skin and remove it from the pepper.
Vegetables decrease in size during drying, so chefs recommend choosing juicy fruits. Harvest residues that have not been put to use are also suitable. Fruits with rot and plaque are not suitable for cooking.
Did you know? Peppers were introduced into culture by the Mayans and Aztecs.
Wash the selected fruits, let them dry, remove the stem and remove the seeds - now they can be dried.
Storage rules and periods
The product must be stored in the cold (cellar, refrigerator), darkness, for 4 to 6 months. If mold has formed on top of the oil, the product should not be consumed. To extend the shelf life to 7-9 months, it is recommended to add 15-20 ml of vinegar per one-liter container.
Peppers prepared by drying will be an excellent appetizer not only for a family dinner. This dish will deserve its place on the holiday table. The set of spices can be varied if desired. Don't be afraid to experiment, because this is how new culinary masterpieces are born.
