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How to Cook Shishito Peppers and 8 Yummy Recipes

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I would be grateful if you shared this recipe :-)

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!

Shishito Peppers on a wooden table

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.

shishito peppers in a grill basket

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.

shishito peppers in a cast iron skillet

Are Shishito Peppers 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 shishito 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 Shishito Pepper 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!

Red shishito peppers roasting in a cast iron skillet

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!

Red Shishito Pepper soup in a bowl. The soup is garnished with jalapeños and cilantro

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

More Ways To Cook Shishito Peppers

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?

Shishito pepper recipes:

Sauteed Chicken with Shishito Pepper Sauce Over Polenta

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.

Tall shot glasses with mango shishito pepper cold soup. Each is garnished with fresh lime and jalapeno.

Mango Shishito Pepper Cold Soup Shots

This is a fun soup that is perfect for a hot summer day. This soup is served cold and has a fruity flavor with a spicy kick. Since shishito peppers aren’t too spicy, I added jalapeños. You can control the heat with this recipe by how many jalapeños you add!

Top view of two bowls of Chilled Shishito Pepper Soup

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

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 bowl. Feta cheese and sliced shishito peppers are floating on top

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.

A bowl with shishito peppers that were roasted with garlic and oil.

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 on a plate

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.

Shishito Pepper Tofu Stir Fry in a bowl with noodles

Shishito Pepper and Tofu Stir Fry These peppers are also delicious in stir fry…add them in for a peppery flavor.

**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!!

 

Yummy Desserts to Try After Dinner

 

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I would be grateful if you shared this recipe :-)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Jenni LeBaron

    July 26, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    This is a fantastic list! I love shishito peppers and think they are a lovely accompaniment to most meals. I always seem to be the one that gets that random super spicy one though!

    Reply

  3. Jaclyn Anne

    July 26, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    I always passed up the shishito peppers since I didn’t know what to make with them – thanks for all these great recipe ideas!

    Reply

  4. Daniela

    July 26, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    I LOVE shishito peppers but after reading your post, I noticed that I knew very little about them. For example, who knew that there’s also a red variety??? That gazpacho looks like the tastiest, most refreshing thing ever, so I will definitely be making it once I can find the peppers at the farmers market. Thanks for the inspo!

    Reply

    • Sandi Gaertner

      July 26, 2018 at 6:24 pm

      I have been searching our Farmer’s Market every week to try to find the red ones this season…they were really tasty!

      Reply

    • Mary Word

      May 6, 2019 at 5:56 pm

      Your article is a bit confusing about the red ones. Near the beginning it says they are better eaten green, then later you say how great the red ones are. They ripen to red, just like any other pepper. (Or yellow or orange or whatever the mature color is.) I am growing some now, and plan to let most of them ripen before picking, as even spicy peppers get a nice hint of sweetness when ripe, like a red jalapeno. I expect it is harder to find red ones, as the ripe ones would not keep as well as green. I advocate growing your own peppers if possible, so you can pick at the peak of whatever stage you like best!

      Reply

      • Sandi Gaertner

        May 7, 2019 at 5:09 pm

        Hi Mary, Sorry for the delay, but I wanted to ask the farmer I buy the red shishito peppers from. According to Tomatero Farm (at our Farmer’s Market) the red shishito peppers they grow are not green shishito peppers that turn red. These are an heirloom variety that only is red. I hope this helps clear up the misunderstanding.

        Reply

  5. Pam Greer

    July 26, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    Our local ramen restaurant has the best shishito peppers. I had no idea I could do some recipes at home! My only decision is which one to try first!

    Reply

  7. christine

    August 23, 2015 at 6:28 am

    I’m not all that familiar w/ these peppers but they sound so wonderful AND versatile. I love a sauce made from peppers.

    Reply

  8. Jamie @ Coffee With Us 3

    August 21, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    I’ve never heard of shishito pepper, but now I’m going to have to look for them when I’m at the grocery store!

    Reply

  9. Joy @ Joy Love Food

    August 21, 2015 at 7:09 am

    What a great collection, I haven’t used shishito peppers at home yet, so I will have to give some of these a try, the dipping sauce looks really good!

    Reply

  10. Audrey @ Unconventional Baker

    August 20, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    I love these little peppers — especially pickled or grilled! I don’t find them spicy, but they have a beautiful flavor.

    Reply

  11. Debra @ Bowl Me Over

    August 19, 2015 at 5:18 pm

    Love all kinds of peppers and especially loving these tasty recipes! I’m thinking the cauliflower will be where I start. Congratulations!!!

    Reply

  13. Nicole

    August 19, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    I’ve never heard of shishito peppers! They sound fantastic. I must track some down and have a go cooking with them 🙂

    Reply

  17. Diane

    August 18, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    How timely! I am overwhelmed with peppers at the moment. Not Shishito, but several varieties of red peppers that are about the same heat. I’ll be studying your recipe collection for ideas! congratulations on getting picked by Mode’s cover! Nice post!

    Reply

  19. KC the Kitchen Chopper

    August 18, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    This is so timely! I just orders shishitos from our Farm Fresh Box delivery. They’ll be here Friday. Can’t wait to try a recipe or two! 🙂

    Reply

  22. Becky

    August 18, 2015 at 10:38 am

    I don’t know how, but I had never heard of Shishito peppers!! I am a pepper lover and also a lover of anything spicy!! I will be giving them a try as soon as I find them!!

    Reply

  25. Levan @ Crazy Vegan Kitchen

    August 18, 2015 at 3:47 am

    8 ways of AWESOME is what this post is. Thanks for sharing this informative and lovely post 🙂

    Reply

  28. jules

    August 17, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    I can’t wait to try some of these delicious looking recipes! Thanks for curating them and putting them all in one place!!! It’ll be especially fun to try the battered ones with gluten free flour and GF beer!
    YUM!
    ~jules
    gfJules.com

    Reply

    • Sandi Gaertner

      August 17, 2015 at 1:26 pm

      Let me know how they turn out Jules. That one caught my eye as well. I was thinking Bard’s might be a good gluten free beer to use.

      Reply

  29. Mayuri Patel

    August 17, 2015 at 11:43 am

    Interesting article on shishito peppers. Never heard of them but during my next trip to UK or Canada will surely look for them to try them out. Maybe the shishito tempura is the one I will out first 🙂

    Reply

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