Spicy Boiled Peppers

Spicy Boiled Peppers is a simple, vibrant side dish or condiment, typically made by boiling fresh chili peppers (like jalapeños or serranos) in a savory broth of salt, garlic, and sometimes vinegar or soy sauce. It's a staple in many cuisines, particularly in Chinese home cooking and Mexican kitchens, where it's known as 'chiles toreados' when prepared similarly. The dish highlights the pepper's natural heat and flavor with minimal fuss.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is very low in carbohydrates and fat, with virtually no protein, making it a light, low-calorie addition to a meal—often under 50 calories per serving. Its key nutrients come from the peppers themselves, which are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and capsaicin, a compound linked to metabolism and pain relief.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	45 kcal
Protein	1.5 g
Carbs	8 g
Fat	1 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	4 g
Sodium	350 mg
Vitamin C	120 mg
Vitamin A	2500 IU
Potassium	300 mg
Vitamin B6	0.2 mg
Folate	35 mcg
Manganese	0.15 mg
Vitamin K	15 mcg
Iron	0.8 mg

Per 1 cup (150 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, Spicy Boiled Peppers is a testament to the global love for chili peppers, showing how a single ingredient can be transformed with basic techniques across different traditions. Nutritionally, the capsaicin in the peppers not only provides the signature heat but also offers potential benefits like anti-inflammatory properties and appetite suppression.