The Many Virtues Of The Humble Bell Pepper … Even The Wonky Ones

Did you know (because I didn’t until recently) that red bell peppers actually contain more Vitamin C than citrus fruits? Who would have thought?

When it comes to food I’m very aesthetically minded and food needs to look good for me to eat it. I don’t need the presentation of fine dining but I do like colourful food and that why I love bell peppers, they can transform a bland looking dish into a vibrant masterpiece with their amazing colours … isn’t nature wonderful!

As a general rule we’re advised by many nutritionists to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables in a variety of colours so you can’t really go wrong with the humble bell pepper, even the wonky ones. Different coloured bell peppers offer different nutrients such as Vitamin K1, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and folates and they are also rich in beta-carotene and can help give your immune system a boost.

As a very versatile vegetable there are so many ways you can use a bell pepper to add colour, flavor, crunch, sweetness and goodness into your diet. I slice them into crudités to eat with my hoummus for a healthy snack, or I’ll add them to my homemade pizza topping or a toss into a salad for colour and crunch. 

I like them roasted and stuffed with turkey mince and topped with cheese or roasted in a spicy Moroccan chicken tray bake One of my favourite things to eat though is my mum’s recipe of pasta with sweetcorn and peppers in tomato sauce, it’s pure comfort food at its best and there’s only one word for it, ‘yum’.

Tying my mum’s amazing dishes into an actual recipe can prove to be a little difficult as she’s the type of cook who will throw in a bit of this and a little bit of that and it always turns out perfect. I haven’t reached that level of perfection yet and possibly never will do but I have made it my mission to try and tie her down to something that looks like a recipe with basic measurements that even a mere mortal like myself can follow as I get a master class in the kitchen.

Watch this space!