Shishito Peppers: The Mildly-Spiced Japanese Vegetable Perfect for Snacking
What Are Shishito Peppers?
Shishito peppers originated in Japan and are a small, savory green pepper that's perfect for easy roasting and snacking in large part due to its thin skin that helps it cook quickly and absorb flavor easily. Approximately one in 10 shishito peppers might have a surpising kick of heat, but most of them are mild.
Why Are Only Some Shishitos Peppers Spicy?
Shishito peppers are part of the chile pepper family, which can produce capsaicin (aka spice). According to Noah Robbins, founder and CEO of Ark Foods, "If you encounter a spicy shishito, it's more of a quick kick of heat, rather than an overwhelming, lingering spice." (For reference, bell peppers have no capsaicin, which is why they are universally mild.) "Each pepper on the shishito plant reacts differently to natural elements and the soil," he says. "While some shishitos on the plant can withstand extreme variance in temperatures and stay mild—for example, uncharacteristically hot nights—the stress caused by nature on the pepper can make its natural capsaicin more pronounced."
5 Ways to Use Shishito Peppers
Sautéing Shishito Peppers
When sautéing Shishito Peppers, there are a few important points to keep in mind:
Depending on the ingredients and spices you are adding to your Peppers, you may want to use a particular type of oil to give them a certain flavor. Olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil would all be great options!
Shishito Peppers have a very thin skin, which means they cook quickly. As you are sautéing your Peppers, keep a close eye on them to make sure they are not getting overcooked. It’s best to sauté these Peppers on a medium heat setting until their skin is slightly charred and blistered.
Before adding in your additional ingredients, move your sautéed Peppers to a cool burner, then add your ingredients to the pan and mix with the Peppers. This will help your Peppers stay crunchy!
Ready to get sautéing? Here are some of our favorite Shishito Pepper recipes that are a quick sauté away from ending up on tonight’s menu!
Lemon-Garlic Shishito Peppers
Cilantro-Lime Shishito Peppers
Asian-Sesame Shishito Peppers
Pickling Shishito Peppers
If you think regular pickles are addictive, wait until you try pickled Shishito Peppers! Making pickled Shishito Peppers is simple, and the result is an incredibly flavorful garnish for a variety of finger-food appetizers, sandwiches, and burgers.
When pickling your Shishito Peppers, keep these points in mind:
Cut your Peppers into 1-inch slices rather than pickling them as whole Peppers – by cutting the Peppers up, more of the pickling brine will be soaked into the Pepper slices to fill them with a stronger pickled flavor.
Leave the pickled Shishito Peppers marinating in your fridge for at least 1 week before eating.
Try Pickled Shishito Peppers as a garnish on burgers, to top off a host of classy appetizers, or even to snack on by themselves!
Roasting Shishito Peppers
To roast your Shishito Peppers, simply toss them in your desired high heat oil, spread them on a baking sheet, and roast at 425 degrees for 5-7 minutes. With such a thin skin, Shishito Peppers take very little time to cook, so avoid roasting them for any longer than 7 minutes.
Since most Shishito Peppers have a mildly sweet taste, you can get creative with the oils and spices you use. Keep it simple with olive oil and sea salt or try a new combination of flavors – the choice is yours!
Saucing Shishito Peppers
Want to take your roasted Shishito Peppers a step further? Once roasted, chop off the Pepper stems and add the roasted Peppers, 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and your desired spices and juices to a blender. Mix until the sauce takes on your desired consistency!
Here are some serving ideas to best enjoy this tasty sauce:
Offer it as a dip for a loaded veggie platter
Spread it on a BLT sandwich
Drizzle it on shrimp or fish tacos
Wrapping Shishito Peppers
Another exciting way to enjoy Shishito Peppers is by wrapping them in a thinly-sliced meat such as prosciutto or chorizo. Once wrapped, it’s as simple as placing the wrapped Shishito Peppers into your oven and toasting them for 5-7 minutes, or until the meat becomes slightly crispy. Wrapped Shishito Peppers are the ideal restaurant-worthy starter that will impress your guests!
Here are our top two Wrapped Shishito Pepper recipes:
Chorizo-Wrapped Shishito Peppers
Prosciutto-Wrapped Shishito Peppers