Details on Chili Pepper, Chilli (Chile) Pepper Spice

Chili is also known as chilli pepper or chile pepper. Chili comes in different hotness like red hot chili pepper, mild chili pepper and sweet chilli.

Chili Pepper (Chilli Pepper)

<-- Chili Pepper Red Powder

Chili pepper is one of the most useful spice. Capsaicinis the component that makes hot chilli hot. Chilies can improve digestion, help ease pain, destroy bacteria, and boost metabolism.

The foods with hot chillies provide a sense of coolness to the skin by raising perspiration in hotter days. Chili peppers are rich in Vitamin C. The capsaicin present in chili peppers is a pain relieving medication for use in arthritis, and some creams including capsaicin are available. A soup containing chili pepper, garlic and other herbs is good for the treatment of colds, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Chillies contain capsaicin which is a good protection against cancer. Capsaicin will be the main ingredient in the next generation of anti-cancer drugs as reported the online Jan 2007 edition of Daily Mail.

Select chili pepper of fine red powder form. Do not buy with visible seeds. For good color and texture to the dishes, you can buy paprika (which is powdered red capcicum) and mix it with red chilli powder.

Green and red chillies make very tasty pickles. see Chili Pickles Recipe

Nutritional Values of Chili Pepper

Parameters	Value per 100g
Moisture  Protein  Fat  Minerals  Fibre  Carbohydrates  Energy  Calcium  Phosphorus  Iron	10.000 gm    15.900 gm    6.200 gm    6.100 gm    30.200 gm    31.600 gm    246.000 K cal 160.000 mg    370.000 mg    2.300 mg
Vitamins
Carotene  Thiamine  Riboflavin  Niacin  Vitamin C	345.000 µg     0.930 mg    0.430 mg    9.500 mg    50.000 mg
Minerals & Trace Elements
Sodium  Potassium  Phytin Phosphorus	14.000 mg    530.000 mg    71.000 mg

Nutritional Values of Green Chili Pepper

Parameters	Value per 100g
Moisture  Protein  Fat  Minerals  Fibre  Carbohydrates  Energy  Calcium  Phosphorus  Iron	85.700 gm    2.900 gm    0.600 gm    1.000 gm    6.800 gm    3.000 gm    29.000 K cal 30.000 mg    80.000 mg    4.400 mg
Vitamins
Carotene  Thiamine  Riboflavin  Niacin  Folic Acid (Free)  Folic Acid (Total)  Vitamin C	175.000 µg     0.190 mg    0.390 mg    0.900 mg    6.000 µg     29.000 µg     111.000 mg
Minerals & Trace Elements
Magnesium  Copper  Manganese  Molybdenum  Zinc  Chromium  Oxalic Acid  Phytin Phosphorus	272.000 mg    1.400 mg    1.380 mg    0.070 mg    1.780 mg    0.040 mg    67.000 mg    7.000 mg

Source: National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR, Hyderabad, India

Tips for Storing & using Chilli peppers

• Select chili pepper of fine red powder form. Red chili pepper powder comes in dark red and yellowish red colors. Red chilli pepper powder gives very good color and texture to vegetable curries. Do not buy chili powder with visible seeds.

• Chili powder spice should be stored in airtight containers in a cool dark place. It lose their potency due to heat, light, and air.

• Do not store chili pepper spice powder in refrigerator.

Some spices are good for preventing cance and lowering cholesterol. Most common spices that are used in indian cooking are red chili powder, turmeric, cumin, garam masala and asafetida or hing.