Charleston Pepper

What Is Charleston Pepper?

Charleston pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a long, thin, slightly curved, light green pepper variety. It is generally sweet, but occasionally a slightly hot pepper can turn up among them. With its thin skin and plump flesh, it is a bit thicker and larger than the pointed pepper.

It is an indispensable frying pepper in Turkish cuisine; it is also very well suited to stuffing and to being roasted and peeled for salads and meze. It is at its most abundant and flavorful in summer.

Nutritional Value of Charleston Pepper

Like green peppers, Charleston pepper is a low-calorie (about 20 kcal per 100 grams), high-water-content vegetable rich in vitamin C. Since verified variety-specific data is limited, values are approximated based on the green pepper profile.

What Are the Benefits of Charleston Pepper?

With its low calories, fiber, and vitamin C content, Charleston pepper can be considered part of a balanced diet; it is a light, refreshing vegetable.

This information is general; Charleston pepper is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Charleston Pepper?

Fresh Charleston pepper is shiny, firm, taut, and has its stem attached; wrinkled, softened, spotted peppers have lost their freshness. The skin should be smooth and vivid green.

• Skin should be shiny, vivid green, and smooth
• Pepper should be firm-taut, not wrinkled
• Stem should be fresh-green; a dried stem indicates staleness

How to Store Charleston Pepper?

Charleston pepper keeps its freshness for about a week in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, in a perforated bag; since moisture speeds up spoilage, it is stored unwashed and washed right before use.

Using Charleston Pepper in the Kitchen

Charleston pepper is most often fried and roasted, and also chopped into stuffed dishes and other recipes. Frying it and serving it with yogurt-garlic is a classic summer meze.

How Is Fried Pepper Made?

Washed and dried peppers are turned whole in hot oil and fried until the skin puffs up and softens; they are salted and served with yogurt-garlic sauce and tomato sauces.

Can Charleston Pepper Be Stuffed?

Yes; thanks to its plump flesh and suitable size, it can be filled with an olive-oil or meat filling and cooked.

Which Recipes Use Charleston Pepper?

Fried peppers, roasted pepper salad, stuffed peppers, and vegetable dishes are its best-known uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charleston pepper hot or sweet?

It is generally sweet; however, depending on growing conditions, a slightly hot pepper can occasionally turn up among them, which is natural.

What is the difference between Charleston and pointed pepper?

Charleston pepper is longer, has slightly thicker flesh, and is generally sweeter than pointed pepper; pointed pepper is thinner and more often hot.

Why does fried pepper splatter oil?

The pepper's water content evaporates on contact with hot oil, causing splattering; drying the peppers well and piercing them with a fork reduces splattering.

Is Charleston pepper frozen?

Yes; washed, dried, and chopped Charleston pepper can be frozen for winter, and although its texture softens after thawing, it can still be used in cooking.

How is Charleston pepper roasted?

The peppers are turned directly over a flame or under the oven broiler until the skin blackens; they are then rested in a closed container and peeled to be used in salads and meze.