A pepper pickle is a dish that involves peppers that have been preserved through the process of pickling. While the banana pepper is probably the most pickled pepper, other varieties are popular as well. Pickling peppers enhances their flavor and it is one of the best ways to preserve the vegetable when it is in abundance.
In addition to being a popular household preparation, pepper pickles are manufactured commercially. There are various companies which sell high quality factory-made pepper pickles. However, in areas where peppers are cultivated, the home-made varieties are always preferred over store-brought ones for pickling.
Although little information is available about the history of pickled pepper, it is believed that the vegetable has been pickled for centuries.
Pickled peppers are consumed on their own and are also an important ingredients, especially in sandwiches.
Pepper Pickles: Common Ingredients Used in Preparation
To make pepper pickle, pepper, salt, water, herbs, spices and vinegar are traditionally the most important ingredients. The spices and herbs used in preparation can vary and these depend mostly on individual tastes and preferences. Peppercorns, dill, bay leaf and coriander are some of the most commonly used pickling ingredients.
Cubanelle, Hungarian, sweet cherry, banana bells, yellow wax and sweet bells are commonly pickled peppers and the preparation can even be a combination of two or more pepper varieties. Whole garlics are also added to the pickle concoction sometimes for more flavor.
Pickled Peppers: Preparation Overview
While making a pepper pickle is not difficult, it is a procedure which needs to be undertaken very carefully, mainly owing to the proportions of the ingredients to be used. If the quantities are not right, the pickle might not turn out the way it is meant to. Removing the seeds from peppers is also a very important step which should not be skipped. Seedless peppers pickle better than seeded ones.
Once the peppers have been deseeded, they are submerged in a brine of salt water and vinegar, in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Other spices and herbs are added, the jar is covered and kept aside. The pickling process then starts and it can take anywhere from a few days to a week or two for the peppers to attain the desired flavor and texture.
Pickled Peppers: Trivia
When making pepper pickle, it is important to use only fresh vegetables and ingredients. Use of canned peppers is greatly discouraged.