Billerica Public Library

Peppers of the Americas, the remarkable capsicums that forever changed flavor, Maricel E. Presilla ; photographs by Romulo Yanes

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 331-333) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Peppers of the Americas

bibliography

988864165

Maricel E. Presilla ; photographs by Romulo Yanes

the remarkable capsicums that forever changed flavor

"Few ingredients have had greater influence on the cuisines and foodways of the world than peppers. Born in Amazonia and popularized in the Americas, peppers' diaspora spans millennia and has shaped the way generations of cooks create flavor. Peppers of the Americas, by three-time James Beard Award-winner and historian Maricel Presilla, is the essential reference to this remarkable food, retracing the fascinating history of how Capsicum, the genus to which all peppers belong, spread across the globe, influencing cooking traditions and giving rise to peppers' widespread use today. As Presilla details, peppers bring much more than fire power to the plate. Their distinct flavors--fruity, sweet, floral, herbal--add nuance and depth to cooking that no other ingredient can conjure. Here, Presilla describes nearly 200 varieties of fresh and dried peppers (also including tasting notes and recommended uses), each one photographed to showcase its distinguishing features. Information on how to grow, buy, store, process, and cook provides guidance for making the most of the plethora of peppers now available in markets everywhere. More than 40 pepper-forward recipes for everything from ground dried pepper blends, piquant vinegars, bright sauces and lively sides to memorable main dishes round out Presilla's tribute to this inimitable ingredient. Visually rich with botanical illustrations and more than 225 color photographs, cooks and gardeners alike will be inspired by the vibrant colors, shapely forms, complex flavors, and singular recipes in this artful compendium."--Inside front cover

A pepper epiphany -- The silent gardeners -- Pepper anatomy and heat -- The capsicum clan -- Peppers into words -- The world travels of peppers -- Gallery of fresh peppers -- Gallery of dried peppers -- Into the pepper garden -- Cooking with peppers