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Serving a bowl of roasted shistito peppers is the perfect snack or easy appetizer. Making them in the air fryer makes it so much easier and quicker to make! You just need 3 simple ingredients to make these delicious air fryer shishito peppers.
What are Shishito Peppers?
Shishito peppers are a variety of little peppers that are native to Japan. They typically range from slightly sweet to mildly spicy, and are known for their unique wrinkled appearance. Shishito peppers are popular in Japanese cuisine but they have gained popularity outside of Japan and are now commonly found in various dishes.
These peppers are usually harvested while they are green and immature, although they can turn red as they mature.
Shishito peppers are typically cooked quickly by sautéing or grilling them whole until they are blistered and slightly charred. They are often served with a dipping sauce or sprinkled with sea salt. The peppers are usually enjoyed whole, including the seeds and stem, as they are small and have a thin skin that is edible.
Are Shishito Peppers Spicy?
As a whole, these Japanese peppers are considered very mild peppers.
One of the distinctive characteristics of shishito peppers is that most of them are not spicy, but occasionally, one in ten peppers can be unexpectedly spicy. This adds an element of surprise when eating them, as you never know which pepper will be hot.
On average shishito peppers are about 50-200 scoville heat units. For comparison, jalapeño peppers are 2,000 - 8,000 and a bell pepper is a 0.
How to Air Fry Shishito Peppers
Air frying shishito peppers is super simple. Here are the 4 main steps to get the perfect peppers:
- Toss shishito peppers with olive oil in a small bowl.
- Place in the air fryer at 400F for 8-10 minutes.
- Give them a good shake halfway through to make sure all the sides get blistered.
- Sprinkle with salt and serve with fresh lemon juice or lime juice.
If you want to use less oil, use an olive oil spray instead of tossing it with 1 tbsp of olive oil. You could also just use a little less if you prefer.
Where to Buy Shishito Peppers
I have found it easier to find shishito peppers recently. They will be in the produce section in the grocery stores. You might be able to find them art your local grocery store, but I have also found them at Trader Joes and Whole Foods.
You might even be able to find them at a local farmers markets in late summer or early fall when they are the freshest.
What to do with Leftover Peppers
I think these small peppers are best served fresh. When storing them after cooking they can get a little mushy. If you do need to store them, place then in an airtight container in the fridge. When you are ready to eat them again, toss them back into the air fryer to heat them up.
How to Serve Shishito Peppers
These shishito peppers make for a perfect appetizer. They are quick to make and fun to share. Serve them along side some lemon wedges and extra salt. That way everyone can adjust them to their liking. You could even make these as a snack if you just want a few.
Shishito peppers also make a great side dish. They are traditionally a Japanese dish so they work well along side Japanese food, but you could really serve them along side almost anything.
How to Eat Shishito Peppers
The best way to eat a shishito pepper is to pick them up by the stem or grab the pepper itself, and take a bite. The peppers are small, so you can usually eat them in one or two bites. Since the skin is so soft from air frying, they are easy to bit off. Remember that most shishito peppers are mild, but occasionally, you may encounter a spicy one, so it adds a fun surprise element to eating them.
More Air Fryer Recipes
I hope you enjoy these air-fried shishito peppers as a delicious appetizer at your next meal! Share what you make with us on social media @sigsbeestreet
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