Pepper It Up

Europe

France

Piparde is a traditional dish originating in the region of French and Spanish Basque country. The dish is prepared with tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and Espeletter peppers. To enhance flavors ingredients like garlic, ham, and eggs are added.

The dish Poulet Basquaise offers both French and Mediterranean flavors. It is a popular stew, in translation Basque-style chicken. The dish is prepared with chicken pieces only legs or thighs. These are generously sprinkled with Espellete pepper, an authentic French pepper variety. Bell peppers are also added and Bayonne ham, a salty, air-dried ham to give this stew a smoky flavor.

Hungary

Toltott Paprika is traditionally prepared with yellow wax peppers. The peppers are filled with minced meat, rice, eggs, and various seasonings, The peppers are cooked in a rich, paprika-infused tomato broth. They’re served with mashed potatoes or bread.

Albania

Fergese Tirane is one of the national dishes of Albania. It originated in the capital, Tirana. The dish is made with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, locally made salted cottage cheese or feta cheese, basil, butter, flour, and olive oil. All of the vegetables are sauteed and a roux is made with butter and flour in a separate pan. The ingredients are combined in small clay pots, seasoned, and baked in the oven with the cheese melting over all.

Bulgaria

Chushki burek is a traditional dish. It is prepared by stuffing and frying peppers. Roasted sweet red peppers are filled with cheese, eggs, and fresh herbs like parsley or dill. The peppers then are dredged in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs and deep-fried in oil until crispy.

Kyopolou is a vegetable spread made with roasted eggplants and garlic. Other versions include roasted kapia peppers, tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, bay leaves, and parsley. Regional varieties include ground walnuts. The spread is eaten on crackers or bread and can be served as an accompaniment to grilled meat dishes.

Mish Mash in translation is actually a mixture of different things. It is a combination of eggs and summer vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Other ingredients added are sautéed onions, salt, pepper, and Bulgarian white cheese. It is served with slices of bread or toast,

Croatia

Sataras is a delectable vegetable stew. It is made with tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and parsley. The ingredients are fried, seasoned with salt and pepper, and stewed on low heat. It can be eaten hot or cold and some like to have an egg sunny-side up on top.

Serbia

Moravsak salata is a salad that originated in Nis and Leskovac. It is a combination of leeks, tomatoes, roasted peppers, hot peppers, garlic, salt, and oil. The vegetables are chopped, seasoned with salt, and drizzled with oil. Popular in the summer month it can also be served as an appetizer or a side dish.

Romania

Arder umpluti is a dish prepared with yellow bell peppers stuffed with minced pork, white rice, and flavored with garlic and herbs. Other versions of the dish include mushrooms, cheese, carrots, onions, eggplants, and tomatoes. Traditionally the stuffed peppers are boiled in tomato juice with salt, pepper, and bay leaves. They’re served hot with a spoonful of sour cream or yogurt.

Vinete umplute is a dish made with eggplant halves stuffed with ground pork or beef, onions, red peppers, cheese, garlic, and herbs like basil and parsley. After they’re stuffed they’re baked in the oven. Some varieties of this dish include breadcrumbs and eggs.

North Macedonia

Malidzano is a spread that is a combination of eggplants and red peppers, seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic. For extra flavor walnuts and crumbled white cheese are added. The spread is served as an appetizer with crusty bread.

Polneti piperki is a hearty dish made with peppers stuffed with ground meat, rice and various seasonings. Chopped vegetables can be added.

Turkey

Biber dolmasi is a dish made with peppers stuffed with ground lamb or beef, rice, and onions. Additional ingredients can include raisins, pine nuts, mint, and garlic. Once stuffed the peppers are boiled in water.

Bulgur pilavi is a nutritious pilaf which is a combination of onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and spices. It is served as an accompaniment to meat dishes and casseroles.

Greece

Yemista is a dish made with tomatoes and green peppers stuffed with rice and vegetables. The stuffed vegetables are baked in the oven. This can be prepared with ground meat as well.

Italy

Peperonata has regional varieties. The dish is prepared with bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and at times potatoes. It can be an accompaniment to meat or as a bruschetta topping.

Spain

Esgarrat is a traditional dish originating from Valencia. It is made with red peppers, cod, garlic, olive oil, and salt. This is an appetizer with roasted peppers and grilled cod. Both the peppers and cod are cut into strips. The dish is seasoned with garlic, salt, and olive oil.

Tombet is a traditional Mallorcan vegetable dish. It consists of baked layers of aubergines, red bell peppers, and potatoes that have been fried in olive oil. When served the dish is topped with fried tomatoes, garlic, and parsley.

Pinchos Gilda is a dish originating in San Sebastian. The dish is made with pitted green olives, anchovy filets, and small hot pickled peppers like guindillas or pepperoncini.

Pincho de pimentos del piquillo rellenos de atun is a traditional appetizer originating in the Basque Country. It is prepared with tuna-stuffed paquillo peppers. They’re stuffed with tuna mixed with chopped shallots, mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.

Escalivada is a famous dish from the Catalonia region. It consists of eggplants, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, grilled over hot embers. The vegetables are peeled and seasoned.

Asia

India

Tomato chutney is made by crushing roasted tomatoes, chilis, garlic, tamarind, salt, and cumin with a mortar. Added ingredients can be sesame seeds, peanuts, and onions.

Kadai paneer tis a traditional dish made in a unique wok. It is cooked with paneer cheese, bell peppers, and freshly ground spices called kadai masala. The spices include red chili peppers, cardamom, fennel, cloves, and coriander seeds.

Syria

Makdous is made with small-sized baby eggplants boiled and stuffed with roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, and salt.

Thailand

Red curry is one of the most common curries in Thailand. It is a combination of red curry paste, coconut milk, vegetables, and meat. Spices included are dry red chilis, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, shrimp paste, coriander, and cumin.

Kaeng khiao wan is a fiery green curry. Fresh chilis are ground into a paste and mixed with galangal, shrimp paste, lemon grass, garlic, turmeric, coriander, kaffir leaves, and whole peppercorns.

Indonesia

Ikan bakar is a popular Indonesian and Malaysian dish. It is made with barbecued fish and other seafood like squid, cockles, and clams. The fish is marinated in chili paste, soy sauce, turmeric, galangal, and other seasonings.

China

Donkey burger is a unique Chinese hamburger popular in Baoding and Hejian. The filling is prepared by filling a shao bing roll with shredded donkey meat, green peppers, and coriander leaves. The meat is usually served cold.

Chongquing chicken is a famous Sichuan dish made with chicken and chilis. The chicken is chopped into small pieces, marinated, and deep-fried. Lots of dried red chili peppers are added. The ingredients are stir-fried with ginger and garlic.

Africa

Libya

Tajin mahshi is a dish that can be served as a main meal or side dish, It is made with a variety of stuffed vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, and courgettes. The filling is a mix of ground meat, onions, rice, and spices like chiles, salt, pepper, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon.

Angola

Piri piri is a spicy sauce made with bird’s eye chili peppers, red wine vinegar, paprika, and garlic. Other ingredients are lemon, chili peppers, oil, tarragon, citrus peel, and oregano.

Morocco

Taktouka is a salad made with cooked tomatoes and green peppers mashed into a puree. It is served as a side dish to grilled meat and fish or used as a dip with crusty bread.

Tunisia

Kafteji is a traditional dish with fried vegetables like eggplants, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkins. The vegetables are chopped, fried, and combined with fried eggs and seasonings.

Mechouia is a salad prepared with grilled, coarsely chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes, and garlic drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with caraway, salt, and black pepper. The salad is garnished with hard-boiled eggs, olives, or tuna.

North America

The US

Chicken riggies is an Italian-American pasta dish originating in the Utica area of New York State. It is made with rigatoni pasta, hot or sweet peppers, chicken, and a spicy cream and tomato sauce.

Potatoes O’Brien is a dish made with pan-fried potatoes, green bell peppers, and red bell peppers. Variations include crispy bacon.

Corn relish is traditionally prepared in the southern US. It is a combination of corn, bell peppers, onions, sugar, and vinegar.

Maque choux is a Creole dish originating in Louisiana. It is prepared with corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Some variations include celery and garlic. Hot sauce or sugar might be added to the pot before serving.

Mexico

Mole coloradito is a traditional sauce originating in Oaxaca. It is made with onions, celery, garlic, carrots, chili peppers, thyme, allspice, black peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, tomatoes, marjoram, bread, raisins, cumin, sesame seeds, mashed sweet plantains, and dark chocolate.

Mole blanco is a rare kind of mole that is usually made for special events like Christmas or Easter. It is a thick, nutty, and creamy sauce made with almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, Spanish almonds, garlic, onion, habanero peppers, and chicken broth.

Arroz verde is a rice dish made with pilaf raw rice fried and then combined with liquid, poblano peppers, and coriander.

Enchilada Potosina originated in San Luis Potosi. It is a combination of ancho peppers in corn dough filling with cheese. The enchiladas are fried in hot oil until golden brown. Besides cheese, tomatoes and onions are added to the fillings. These enchiladas are topped with avocado slices, chopped onions, or sour cream.

Chili relleno is a dish originating in Puebla. It is made with chili peppers stuffed with ingredients like cheese, nuts, cinnamon, and diced meat. After the peppers are stuffed they’re dipped in eggs and flour and deep-fried in hot oil.