Can you eat green pepper seeds?
In this short article, we will provide an answer to the question, “Can you eat green pepper seeds?” with an in-depth analysis of green peppers, the taste of green pepper seeds, the health benefits of green pepper seeds, how to remove green pepper seeds as well as some ways to use green pepper seeds.
Can you eat green pepper seeds?
Yes, you can eat green pepper seeds if you are a spice lover. Green pepper seeds are edible, though they are very spicy. So if you are cooking with green peppers, you will have to remove the seeds, unless you want to eat the spiciest meal.
What are green peppers?
Green peppers, scientifically known as Capsicum annuum, are simply unripe bell peppers. They are less sweet with a grassier taste as compared to red and yellow peppers and have a somewhat bitter taste.
Green pepper, like all other bell peppers, is composed of 3 or 4 bulging lobes joined together, narrowing slightly at the bottom and equipped with a rough green stem at the top.
Inside the green pepper, there are a bunch of tiny white seeds towards the stem end. Although these seeds are nutritious, they are mostly discarded as they have a slightly bitter taste.
Green peppers and all other varieties of bell peppers are satisfyingly crispy, although they do differ slightly in flavour based on their colour.
The seeds and the whitish membrane called placenta inside a green pepper contain most of the capsaicin in the pepper. This means that if you exclude them, you can easily turn down the heat. Or, if you want to have a slightly spicy meal, you can take out the seeds but leave the placenta.
Health benefits of green peppers
Improves eye health
Green peppers have a good amount of lutein. Lutein is a chemical compound that gives carrots, cantaloupe, and eggs their characteristic yellow and orange colour. It is considered an antioxidant that is known to improve eye health.
Lutein, particularly, helps in strengthening the part of the eye that often gets affected by blue light. Getting enough lutein in the diet may assist in limiting the occurrence of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Prevent Anaemia
Anaemia is a condition characterized by low levels of iron in the blood. This can restrict the production of normal erythrocytes, which carry oxygen all around the body. The major symptoms of anaemia are fatigue and weakness.
In addition to iron, they are also loaded with vitamin C, which can support the body to absorb iron more effectively. This union makes green peppers a superfood for preventing and treating iron-deficiency anaemia.
Nutrition
Interestingly, green pepper seeds have double the quantity of vitamin C by mass than other citrus fruits. Green pepper seeds are rich in:
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Folates
Nutrients per serving
One half-cup serving of green pepper seeds provides:
- Calories: 15
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Carbs: 3 g
- Sugar: 2 g
- Fibre: 1 g
Risks of eating green pepper seeds
Green peppers seeds are safe for most people to consume in balance. But, some people may be allergic to the seeds of green peppers, particularly people who have pollen allergies. Check for symptoms of an allergic reaction, for instance, shortness of breath or swelling of the tongue or throat, and consult a doctor if needed.
How to make a spicy sauce with green pepper seeds?
To make the best and spiciest sauce, lightly heat the green pepper seeds in plain vegetable oil
Transfer everything to a small dish, and spoon over your meal. This recipe makes one of the hottest sauces. As capsaicin dissolves quite well in fat and oil, and by heating, it can become even more potent.
The best thing is that this sauce can last for a couple of weeks if you keep it firmly closed after every use.
How to remove green pepper seeds?
There are several ways to remove the seeds out of green pepper, the easiest one is described below:
- Cut the green pepper longitudinally down the centre
- Open the pepper so you have 2 halves facing up
- Trim around the stem at the head. This will remove the majority of the seeds
- Discard the stem with all the seeds
- Cut the leftover seeds out
- Wash the green peppers with running tap water to remove all residual seeds
Now the green peppers are ready to be sliced, diced, or cut and used in any dish.
Conclusion
In this short article, we have provided an answer to the question, “Can you eat green pepper seeds?” with an in-depth analysis of green peppers, the taste of green pepper seeds, the health benefits of green pepper seeds, how to remove green pepper seeds as well as some ways to use green pepper seeds.
