COOKING TIPS AND HINTS SECTION

 You are here > Home > 

Next

See also: Sweet Pepper Colors;   Sweet Pepper Trivia;
Article on Sweet Peppers

PEPPERS, SWEET

QUESTION
Can one eat green bell or sweet yellow  pepper leaves?  I can't seem to find anything on the web other that a reference to chili pepper leaves.
Larry

ANSWER
Hello Larry,

They will not kill you but they may or may not make you sick.

Bell peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes are members of the Solanaceae or Nightshade family, which also includes such poisonous plants as deadly nightshade and jimsonweed.     The leaves of potato plants contain poisonous alkaloids, and tomato leaves contain poisonous alkaloids, but to a much lesser degree.  Bell Peppers contain similar alkaloids, also to a lesser degree.  The amount of poisonous alkaloids in all of these plants can vary widely depending on the specific variety.

On several websites you will find statements about bell pepper leaves being eaten in other cultures (Southeast Asia, etc).  I do not know whether this is true or not, what I do know is that they may not be growing the same varieties of bell pepper plant as are grown in the U.S.  If some varieties of bell pepper leaves are eaten, they are cooked, not eaten raw.

Chef James, FoodReference.com
 

1 medium bell pepper = 1 cup chopped

Peppers last longer in paper bags in the crisper compartment of the refrigerator.

Green, sweet bell pepper have 2 times as much vitamin C as oranges; red and yellow bell peppers have 4 times as much.

Carve out peppers and stuff them with rice or use them as colorful containers for dips or other edible items.

Include sliced peppers on your next veggie tray.

They can be used as a colorful garnish.

Use them to create colorful and exciting meals by adding a mixture of different colored sliced or chopped peppers to your favorite salads, pastas, and Chinese or Mexican dishes.