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What are Peppadews? The Complete Overview

Peppadews are a spicy, sweet, and crunchy pickled pepper used in many different recipes.

They originate from South Africa but can now be found in most major chain groceries.

What makes Peppadews special is that they are sweet and spicy but not too hot.

They have a nice crunchy texture paired with a soft inside, making them easy to add to any dish.

In this article, we will go over how to store Peppadews, some great recipes that call for them, types of dishes where they are used, and more.

What Are Peppadews?

what are peppadews

If you thought Peppadews were just your run-of-the-mill grocery store pepper, you are wrong.

They are more than that.

Peppadews are a pickled pepper similar to the common green pickled pepper but with a twist.

Not only are they sweet, but they also have heat added by using habanero peppers.

They are then combined with bell peppers and piquant peppers to fill out the flavors.

The recipe is made in South Africa by a company called Peppadew International.

It was created in 1994, and it has since continued to grow in popularity over the years.

They are unique because they are not usually spicy but instead have a sweet and tangy flavor, much like a pepperoncini pepper.

They can be eaten independently but are often used in salads and other dishes that call for a crunchy texture and spicy flavor.

They also pair well with many different types of meat and cheeses.

Piquante peppers are sweet pepper that is not well-known for their spicy taste.

The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating for piquant peppers is between 1000 and 1200 on the Scoville scale, which measures the heat level of peppers.

Though they originate from South Africa, you can find them in most major grocery stores in the United States.

Peppadews vs Cherry Peppers

peppadews vs cherry peppers

If you are looking for a spicy pickled pepper, there is a good chance you will see both Peppadews and cherry peppers in the stores.

So how do they differ?

Though they look very similar, especially since they come in many same colors, their flavors are quite different.

Cherry peppers are also known as Midget Sweet, Pixie, or Mini Bell pepper.

They are very small (approximately 2 inches), with thin walls and a sweet flavor.

Piquante peppers are sweeter and smaller than cherry peppers.

Cherry peppers have a greater amount of capsaicin, with the hot cherry pepper variety ranging from 2500 to 5000 SHU, while piquant peppers have less capsaicin but are nevertheless quite spicy.

Cherry bomb peppers, another similar type, are somewhat milder and range from 1000 to 2500 SHU.

So, while cherry peppers are sweet and piquant peppers are spicier, Peppadews have a more complex flavor with the addition of habanero spices.

How to Cook With Peppadews?

Pickled peppadews or piquant pickled peppers are usually used as a condiment on a wide range of meals, including pizza, sandwiches, wraps, and salads.

Drain the peppers and use them to top pizzas, subs, wraps, and salads, or include them in snack platters, antipasti platters, and cheese trays.

Peppadews are also great on their own as an appetizer or part of a meal.

They go great with cheeses like mozzarella, brie, Swiss, Gouda, and provolone.

Since there is no red dye used in the pickling process for Peppadews (contrary to popular belief), they are also great for kids, people with dietary restrictions, and those who do not like the red dye included in most other pickled pepper products.

Pickled peppadews can be added to sandwiches, pizzas, wraps, salads, platters, cheeses.

Where to Buy Peppadews?

where to buy peppadews

Don’t worry if you have not seen Peppadews in your local grocery store.

You can find them in the canned vegetable aisle or the pickles and olives section of most major stores.

You can also buy them online from sites like Amazon.com.

They will ship right to your door for a great price without leaving your home.

Jarred peppadews may be found in well-stocked supermarkets, specialty food shops, and cheese shops, as well as olives and artichoke hearts.

They’re also available in bulk at the olive bar in places with a prepared foods section.

You can also purchase them online from many retailers.

Fresh piquante peppers are not as common in the United States, but you can find them at major grocery stores and specialty food shops.

So if you are looking for a unique pepper with an interesting taste, give peppadews a try today.

How to Store Peppadews?

how to store peppadews

You can store your jar of peppadews in the pantry until you are ready to use them.

The SHU for Pickled Peppadews is ranked at 300-1600, and there is no need to refrigerate before opening the jar.

Once opened, you can also place it in the refrigerator, which will last for up to 14 days.

If you have some leftovers, you can also freeze the peppadews.

Transfer any remaining contents to an airtight container or freezer bag before placing them in the freezer for up to 12 months.

Nutrition and Benefits

According to their website, Peppadews are a good source of antioxidants.

They also include a dried peppadew pepper for each serving in the ingredients which means that they contain no added salt, fat, or preservatives.

In addition to being low calorie and low carb, peppadews provide 100% of your daily vitamin C needs and dietary fiber and potassium.

The sugar content in a 3.

5-ounce serving of drained peppadews is modest (18.9 grams), as are the salt amounts (.6 g).

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