How to Cook Shishito Peppers and 8 Yummy Recipes

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So you found shishito peppers at your farmer's market or store and you don't know what to do with them?

Here are 8 unique and tasty shishito pepper recipes to help get you started. All of these recipes are easy to prepare; perfect for beginners!

If you are new to gluten free, don't forget to check out my Gluten Free 101 to learn how to live a gluten free lifestyle!

What are Shishito Peppers?

Up until a year ago, I had no idea what shishito peppers were. Friends of ours all met us for dinner one night in downtown Campbell. (There weren't a ton of gluten free appetizers on the menu, so we decided to give these shishito peppers a try.) Their shishito peppers recipe called for fire roasting with chunks of garlic.

Can I say YUM any louder? We inhaled those peppers so quickly I think our waitress was surprised :-).

I love peppers, but for some reason, I always walked right by them. Now I know exactly how to have fun with these fun little peppers in my kitchen. Shishito peppers are incredibly versatile and work in so many different kinds of recipes.

When are shishito peppers ripe?

If you are growing shishito peppers in your garden and want to know when they are ripe, go by the size. Ripe peppers range from 3-5 inches long. If the peppers are left to grow, they will turn a bright red color.

You can still eat them when they are overripe, but won’t taste as good. When they are in their prime ripened state, they are a light-medium green color.

How long do shishito peppers last?

Freshly picked shishito peppers will last in the fridge for around 10-14 days. Once the peppers become soft, they are starting to go bad. Use them up right away at this point.

If you don’t use them, they will become slimy, and mold will begin to develop. Toss them if you notice the shishito peppers becoming moist or slimy.

For best results, store the shishito peppers in the crispy and uncovered. Never store them in plastic containers or bags, because air will be trapped inside and they will begin to spoil rather quickly."

If you can’t eat all the peppers up fast enough, you can also dice them into small pieces and store them in the freezer. Place the peppers in an airtight container or freezer bag. They should last anywhere from 10-12 months. If you notice them becoming freezer burnt, the flavor will be altered, but they are still edible. Frozen shishito peppers are fantastic in soups, tacos, and other recipes.

Are shishito peppers healthy?

Yes, shishito peppers are known for having a high vitamin C content. Additionally, they are loaded with manganese, potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin B6.

Add peppers to all your favorite dishes to sneak in the extra nutrients while enhancing the flavor. Plus, they are only 35 calories per serving.

Are they considered seasonal?

No, you can buy shishito peppers any time of year at your local grocer. Their peak season is in the summer and the beginning of fall. Unlike other some fruits and vegetables, shishito peppers still taste really good when they aren’t in the peak season!

How do you cook these peppers?

I like to cook my shishito peppers in two ways. First, if I am using shishito peppers in a recipe, I tend to fire roast them in a grill basket. If I plan to eat shishito pepper straight, I will pan sauté the peppers with garlic and oil in a cast iron skillet.

Eating these straight out of the pan almost seems boring in comparison to these 8 fabulous, and highly creative pepper recipes!

How to blister shishito peppers?

When you are cooking shishito peppers, many recipes call for them to be blistered. You will be surprised to know it is super easy to blister peppers. All you need to do is heat a little bit of oil (olive or avocado are my favorites) and cook them in a heavy skillet. Turn the peppers until all sides have blisters then they are ready to go.

Fun facts:

• Are shishito peppers spicy? Not into spicy?? Not to worry. They say only 1 in 10 shishito peppers is spicy. (*I will add I have yet to find a spicy one. I haven' t even broken out into a sweat over one.)
• Shishito peppers can be eaten raw like any pepper, but they are more fun to use in recipes when they are cooked.
• Shishito peppers can be fire roasted on a grill or pan-fried.
• You can eat the whole pepper, but I highly recommend not eating the top.
• Can you eat the seeds of shishito peppers? Absolutely!

Where to buy shishito peppers?

You would be surprised how many stores now carry these peppers.

• farmer's markets
• grocery stores
• Trader Joe's even carries them year-round in their refrigerated produce section!

Look at this cool surprise! Shishito peppers also come in this vibrant red color! I only found these once this year, but their flavor was incredible!

I couldn't resist making a Red Shishito Pepper Soup out of them!

Cooking options:

There are several different ways you can cook shishito peppers. I say try them all because each method is terrific! Here are a few ideas:

• Grilled - Char them on the grill and serve them with steak, chicken, or any other meat.
• Air Fryer - Toss them in the air fryer with some oil spritzed on them and cook for 5-6 minutes at 375 degrees F. This is another option for blistering them.
• Baked - Toss in avocado oil and bake for 5-7 minutes at 450 degrees.

Are you ready to try some delicious easy gluten free shishito pepper recipes?

Sautéed Chicken with Shishito Pepper Sauce Over Cheesy Polenta This is a fancy dinner recipe that is made to impress! Cheesy polenta and shishito peppers are a match made in heaven. Add chicken for protein and you have a delicious meal.

Chilled Shishito Soup This cold shishito pepper soup was my very first introduction to these peppers. There is a tangy spice to this soup, making it perfect for someone who loves bold flavors.

In this recipe, the peppers are cooked before being added to the blender. I roasted the shishito peppers in a grill basket for this recipe.

Blistered Shishito Peppers with Sriracha Cream Sauce  Blister these little peppers. This is the most common way to eat shishitos. You can vary the sauces, or just blister the peppers with garlic and salt!

Heirloom Tomato and Shishito Pepper Gazpacho I know, another cold soup...I can't help it. It gets so hot here in the Bay Area! Trust me when I say to blend the flavors of sweet ripe heirloom tomatoes with shishito peppers.

Shishito Peppers I love this simple preparation. These peppers are cooked in a hot cast iron skillet with lots of minced garlic and oil. Go ahead and eat them seeds and all. Just don't eat the stem!

Charred Cauliflower and Shishito Peppers with a Picada Sauce  Another fancy way to cook shishito peppers. Here these peppers bring this cauliflower side dish to life.

**If you like spicy, check out my most popular Hatch Green Chile recipes. I also teach you how to roast these peppers without burning your hands and eyeball!!

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