The Fish Pepper; This is my new favorite!
I love it's history, it's variety of characteristics and uses, and I think it is just a cool looking plant in the garden with it's green and cream variegated leaves! The history is pretty interesting. It is an African-American heirloom pepper that was popular in the Baltimore, Philadelphia area in the fish and shellfish cooking pre-1950's. When the pepper is very young, it is a cream, almost white pepper. It is at this stage that it was used in white soups and sauces in the fish houses. It is very spicy and it changes from white to off-white and green striped, to a bright red. Living near Baltimore, it would be a crime not to include it in my garden! I found my first fish pepper seeds at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and now I save my own seeds. I Love this plant!!!!
It is shaped like an okra! Never did hear of this kind of pepper before. How spicy is it?
ReplyDeleteWhen it is a cream color, it is straighter in shape and milder in flavor. As it matures, it develops the green stripes, gets larger and more 'curled' in shape. At the green and cream stage it is kind of like a serrano pepper. When it turns red, watch out! It is a very versatile pepper.
ReplyDeleteHow spicy is this pepper? Is it more like a green bell pepper or an Anaheim pepper? It's really beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI love looking through the Baker Street catalogue. Everything always looks so tempting.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new peppers!
In terms of how spicy the fish pepper is, it's more like a serrano pepper or a anaheim pepper when it is mature. When it is cream in color and small, I think it's more like a banana pepper. It has so many uses and I don't know if I mentioned it before, but it is very prolific! You always have plenty.
ReplyDeleteTry it- you'll love it!
Thanks, Noelle. I have very little space for vegetables, but this one deserves some room :)
ReplyDeletePatricia, you're going to love it! It is a great addition to your garden.
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