Ingredient of the week: Green pepper/capsicum

Green peppers can be male or female (Photo: Shutterstock)

Did you know there are male and female peppers? It is believed male peppers have, on the bottom, three bumps and not too many seeds and female peppers have four bumps with lots of seeds. The female is said to taste sweeter than the male green pepper. That being the case, male pepper is better for cooking and female pepper better eaten raw. 

In Kiswahili, green pepper or bell pepper is called pilipili hoho. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin C and various carotenoids, green peppers have more benefits when eaten raw.