Shishito Peppers are a hot new ingredient that’s enticing peoples’ tastebuds across the country. Amber Cardosi from A Toasted Crumb has a brand-new recipe that makes for the perfect Meatless Monday – or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…. Her vegan Shishito Pepper Stir Fry is one of our favorites and we’re so excited to share it with you.
Shishito Peppers. Maybe you’ve heard of them before, or maybe this is your first time being introduced to this delicious, trendy ingredient. One thing is for sure: if you want to bring a little added excitement, zest and flavor to your Meatless Monday menu, this is the ingredient that will take everything to the next level. Today, we’re trying these in a delicious Shishito Pepper Stir Fry recipe.
More people are choosing to eat vegan, vegetarian or meatless meals – even if just once a week. Setting aside the potential health benefits, this kind of diet full of fresh veggies can help you discover a whole new world of flavor. When you make the decision to include more healthy vegetables in your diet, it’s an opportunity to try all sorts of fresh, new flavors and ingredients.
In the past year, this trend towards a flexitarian diet has increased. As people have been eating more meals at home, they’ve been looking for creative and healthy ways to keep those meals exciting. Meatless Mondays are more popular now than ever!
It’s no surprise that one ingredient has really caught a lot of attention this year, too. We’re talking of course about those Shishitos. People are choosing to incorporate flavorful and healthy ingredients that add a bit of excitement to their meals, and there’s currently no ingredient that’s quite as exciting as these peppers!
These savory little bite-sized peppers are a truly unique ingredient that every foodie, at-home chef, and flavor fanatic has to try creating with, no matter the eating occasion. They taste equally incredible in an elaborate main dish as in a quick and simple app.
In addition to their versatility, they have the most enticing flavor with an elusive spark of heat. 1 in 10 Shishito Peppers will surprise you with a little heat – not too much, but just enough to spice things up!
One of the best things about Shishito Peppers is that they help you enjoy gourmet in only minutes. With the all-new Grill Pack that we’ve developed, all you have to do is drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt, and roast them in the oven or barbecue at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes. When they begin to char ever so slightly, they’re ready to enjoy as is or with your favorite dip! A savory, gourmet vegan meal has never been this easy!
Our friend Amber Cardosi from A Toasted Crumb recently shared how she likes to enjoy Shishito Peppers: in a quick and easy (and totally vegan!) Shishito Pepper Stir Fry made with cauliflower, red onion and a homemade stir fry sauce.
Amber starts by whisking together soy sauce, vegetable broth, lime juice, rice vinegar, maple syrup, minced garlic, minced serrano peppers, ginger and cornstarch to make her stir fry sauce. You can click here for the full instructions on how to make this.
Preheat your oven or barbecue to 425°. While it’s heating up, chop your cauliflower into florets and slice the red onion into long, thick strips. Toss them both with olive oil, chipotle pepper powder, salt and pepper, and lay them out on a baking sheet. Roast them for 20 minutes.
While the cauliflower is cooking, you can turn your attention to preparing the Shishito Peppers. Simply drizzle with olive oil – there, your prep work is done! After the cauliflower has roasted for twenty minutes, turn on the broiler in your oven and add the Shishito Pepper Grill pack to the middle rack. Quickly brush the cauliflower with your homemade stir fry sauce.
After about 5 to 6 minutes, stir the peppers and cauliflower to make sure they cook evenly. Broil for another 5 minutes and remove both trays. Season the shishitos with a pinch of flaky sea salt.
Serve your stir fry on a bed of your favorite rice or grain. We like to use jasmine or basmati rice, boiled with star anise – a simple little trick that adds a wonderful, delicate flavor to the whole dish.
For Amber’s full Shishito Pepper Stir Fry recipe, click here.
After your family has enjoyed this exciting new healthy recipe, they’ll probably ask what other recipes you can make with these awesome Shishito Peppers.
If you’re in the “barbecue season lasts all year” club, you’ll love Shishito Pepper & Beef Skewers. For a new take on Taco Tuesday, Chicken Tacos Al Pastor with Shishito Pepper Salsa is always a hit. You can even incorporate them with pasta, like this Shishito Pepper Pesto Pasta. The possibilities are truly endless!
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