Bell pepper

Bell pepper season

Bell peppers mature in summer between the months of June and October, depending on the variety.

Nutritional value of bell peppers

The bell pepper is rich in fibre (2 grammes per 100 grammes) and is low in calories (20 kilocalories per 100 grammes). It has high vitamin C content, just after parsley. It is also a source of carotene and flavonoids.

Bell pepper varieties

There are three major varieties of bell peppers depending on their shape:

• the square pepper, the most common in France;
• the rectangular pepper;
• the triangular pepper.

Varieties include the sweet Valence, the small Marseilles green or the spicy Algerian.

The colour of the fruit (red, yellow, green) depends on its maturity as well as its species.

Bell pepper facts

The chilli pepper is also a sort of bell pepper, with a very high capsaicin (hot spice) content.

Make sure to choose firm, smooth peppers with a shiny skin, without bruises or blotches. For a decorative effect, buy different colours of peppers, as different colours are not a factor of their freshness.