Colourful capsicums are sweet and delicious

Throughout my “foodie” adventures, I never stop learning new and interesting facts about salad ingredients; where they come from and how they are grown.

For instance, did you know that the capsicum is actually a fruit? Green capsicums are unripened red or yellow capsicums. So if left on the plant long enough, a green capsicum will turn into red or gold. One red capsicum contains almost the equivalent of two teaspoons of natural sugar, which is why it tastes so sweet and delicious.

Check out Dusanka's 'Roasted red pepper salad' from eastern Europe. Simple to make, healthy and utterly delicious. 

Paprika and cayenne pepper (both well-known spices) are different varieties of capsicums that are more suited to drying. Sprinkle cayenne pepper in your socks to keep your toes warm in winter. Go on... I did it and it works! And if you’re starting to feel drowsy, nibble on some treats with dried chilli added to the recipe.

At From Paddock to Plate, you can come to learn more about food and fibre production. The benefits of this education, particularly for children, are numerous and significant. With this additional knowledge, you will have the ability to make more informed choices about where and how you source your food. It will give you the opportunity to make healthier eating decisions if you know how food has been produced, raised and/or made. These resources will also give you a greater understanding of the work involved in producing food at a grassroots level.

Enjoy your salads! Louise.

Join Louise on a journey through the seasons with salad ingredients, old traditions and popular, exotic or unusual vegetables. From Paddock to Plate founder, author, food writer, radio journalist & yoga teacher.