The Shishito Pepper is one of today’s hottest items in the Pepper category – and not just because 1 in 10 are packed with spicy flavor! These petit, nutrient-packed Peppers are incredibly quick to prepare as restaurant-worthy appetizers or side dishes, making them an ideal option if you’re looking for a simple way to wow your tablemates.
If the Shishito Pepper still isn’t on your radar, it’s time to change that – keep reading for more information about this unique product and some of the best ways to enjoy its exciting range of flavors.
What are Shishito Peppers?
Shishito Peppers are a petit Pepper variety with a highly distinctive flavor profile. Every Pepper is light green in color, with some ripening further to acquire an orange tinge. With thinner walls and a slender form, Shishito Peppers are best suited for appetizers, side dishes, or finger food platters.
While most Shishito Peppers are mildly sweet in flavor, roughly 1 in every 10 will offer a surprise burst of heat. This makes the Shishito Pepper an alluring product that piques people’s curiosity and emboldens their sense of adventure. It is truly a unique product that offers a one-of-a-kind eating experience!
While Shishito Peppers can be eaten raw, there are many ways to prepare them that serve to heighten their flavor. Discover them below!
5 Ways to Prepare Shishito Peppers
Here are our 5 favorite ways to prepare Shishito Peppers that will help you create classy, high-flavor dishes in a flash.
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!
Cilantro-Lime 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:
And if you want to mix things up, you can always experiment and wrap your Shishito Peppers with different types of meat – give salami or bacon a try!
The Perfect Party Pepper
Wrap ‘em, roast ‘em, pickle ‘em, the options for preparing Shishito Peppers are endless. With most of these Peppers boasting a mildly sweet flavor, it’s easy to get creative in the kitchen with Shishito Peppers to create high-flavor dishes that are always unique. Their petit form and exciting flavor make Shishito Peppers the perfect party Pepper!
Keep an eye on our Recipes page for new Shishito Pepper recipes coming soon.
