Description of habanero pepper. Useful substances in its composition, effect on the human body, precautions and contraindications. Habanero pepper recipes, interesting facts.
Harm and contraindications to the use of habanero pepper
Like many other foods, habanero can do both good and harm - it all depends on the specific characteristics of the body and the doses in which you consume the product. Capsaicin, for example, is used in medicines to combat indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, and various types of indigestion. At the same time, if you eat a lot of habanero (or you have an individual intolerance to this product), you can get exactly the same symptoms.
Consequences of abuse of habanero pepper:
- Unpleasant and painful sensations … Habanero has an extremely high level of capsaicin, which makes its pungency seem unpleasant for those who try this type of pepper for the first time or not very often. A strong burning sensation remains on the tongue (and sometimes in the esophagus) for 20 minutes or more. If you feel unbearable heat, eat something oily or sweet, but do not try to wash down the pepper with water - this will only aggravate the result.
- Digestive discomfort … Various forms of indigestion are quite common among newbies who have tried habanero and people who have eaten too much of it. In mild cases, the usual sorbent used in such situations will help (activated carbon or its analogues, from food - black bread, boiled rice).
- High blood pressure … If you suffer from hypertension, it is better to treat spicy food with a lot of hot peppers with caution. Eating such dishes can briefly raise an already high blood pressure, provoking corresponding negative symptoms.
- Elevated temperature … If your body temperature is above average, you should temporarily refrain from eating too much spicy food. Habanero pepper, as well as its counterparts, can increase the heat and slightly raise the temperature.
- Sensitive skin irritation … Capsaicin is an oil that sticks to the fingers, spreads easily over the skin, and is difficult to wash off. In large quantities, this substance can cause significant pain, especially if it comes into contact with the eyes. Be sure to be careful when handling habanero peppers: wash your hands with soap and water after eating, and if you touch the fruit directly, it is recommended that you wear protective gloves when cooking and picking the fruit.
Absolute contraindications for habanero pepper:
- Cardiovascular diseases … If you have serious, chronic problems in this area, it is better to refrain from habanero pepper. Products of such pungency are categorically contraindicated for people who have previously experienced a heart attack.
- Gastrointestinal ulcers … Hot peppers by themselves are not capable of causing an ulcer - this is a common misconception. However, in cases where the disease is already developing, one should not expect any benefit from burning dishes. Capsaicin can aggravate ulcers and cause severe pain.
- Individual intolerance … There are cases of allergic reactions to hot peppers, so exercise reasonable caution before trying it for the first time.
Habanero Pepper Recipes
The unusually intense flavor of the habanero pepper attracts both professional chefs and hobbyists experimenting for their personal kitchen. Try one of the suggested habanero pepper recipes and you will fall in love with the spicy aroma of these dishes:
- Habanero sauce … Like many other peppers, our specimen formed the basis of the sauce of the same name, ideal for meat, barbecue and marinating, seafood and various side dishes. The simplest recipe is as follows: we clean 200 g of habanero peppers from the "tails" and seeds, after putting on gloves. We cut it into slices, do the same with two fruits of sweet pepper. Squeeze half a lemon into a container, chop the cloves of a whole head of garlic and add to the mixture. Add a tablespoon of sugar and apple cider vinegar, a few pinches of salt, your favorite spices to taste (you can do without them). We put everything in a blender, grinding to a pasty state. The sauce is ready, you can start tasting.
- Habanero tomato sauce … To make the spicy dressing slightly softer, you can add fresh tomatoes, tomato paste and oil to it. So the sauce will become more like ketchup, and not just any, but much tastier than from the store. Take a quarter glass of olive oil, 1 red onion, half a teaspoon of cumin, a pinch of ground cayenne pepper and 4-5 pieces of habanero, two large tomatoes, 2 teaspoons of vinegar, a little water. We put the pan on a low heat, pour out the oil, finely chop the onion, add the spices, saute until the onion starts to brown. Add chopped peppers, tomatoes in slices (you can first remove the peel from them by scalding with boiling water), vinegar and water if the mixture is too dense. We keep on fire for another 5-7 minutes, then cool to grind in a blender. Next, the sauce is ready to serve.
- Rice with beans and habanero peppers … Prepare half of the onion, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of vegetable oil, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 cups of rice, a glass of water and vegetable broth, 2 cups of coconut milk, a teaspoon of salt and grated ginger, 400 g of canned beans, 2 tsp. thyme, a couple of small habanero peppers. Next, fry the onion, add rice and garlic to the pan, stirring for 2-3 minutes. Add water, broth and coconut milk, as well as ginger, beans, spices and whole habanero peppers. When the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and cover the container with a lid. After 15-20 minutes, turn off the heat and do not open the lid for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with lime juice if desired.
- Homemade vodka "Habanero" with bacon … It's no secret that pepper and alcohol complement each other perfectly. To repeat such an unusual culinary experiment, we take 6 strips of bacon, 3 habanero peppers and 2 pcs. Chile. Cook the bacon in a frying pan until crisp, then let it cool on paper towels that will remove the fat. We cut the chili and habanero in half, the seeds do not need to be removed. We put vegetables in a jar, add bacon there. We fill it with alcohol and leave it in the refrigerator for 7 days. After the expiration date, the liquid can be filtered.
Interesting Habanero Pepper Facts
Despite the fact that this type of fruit is extremely pungent, it is possible to easily create a certain tolerance for the burning taste. To do this, gradually increase its content in food and enjoy a pleasant bitterness. Surprisingly, following the burning sensation of capsaicin, the body produces endorphins that make a person feel pleasure. This explains the adherence of many gourmets to extremely spicy seasonings.
Seeds of Chinese capsicum have been found in the cave dwellings of the tribes of Central America. This means that the natives consumed habanero as early as 7000 BC. In eastern Mexico, dry peppercorns and seeds were recovered from burial sites 9,000 years ago. Hot peppers were present in the rituals of the Incas and Aztecs, as well as their daily food.
New varieties of hot peppers began to appear only 500-400 years ago, since they were introduced to Europe. Prior to this, the species diversity of fruits was very scarce. At the moment, there are 18 habanero varieties alone, and the selection does not stop there. Capsicum fruits are a popular element in horticultural and landscape design. They liked the experts for their bright color and miniature shape.
Habanero and its varieties have been an integral part of Yucatan and Caribbean cuisine for millennia, adding a significant amount of spice to traditional dishes. Peppers are mainly used in stews and sauces, as well as marinades for meat and chicken.
The amount of capsaicin and the composition of habanero peppers varies from vegetable to vegetable. The color of the fruit is not indicative of its pungency or vitamin content.
A popular habanero growing technology that anyone can use at home is hydroponics. At the same time, pepper loves a sunny climate and slightly acidic soil.
The largest producer and supplier of habanero is the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula.
To reduce the pungency of the habanero, remove the seeds and inner flesh from it.
Dairy products are the best to relieve the "heat" from eating peppers, as they contain casein that binds it. There is a special chemical that is a capsaicin antagonist, capsaserpine. It was created by scientists for more convenience when studying the original product.
Watch a video about habanero pepper:
Habanero pepper is an unusual vegetable and seasoning that you should definitely try at least once. Dishes with its presence acquire an unusual spicy taste of South American cuisine, and are also saturated with vitamins A, C and B, potassium, essential amino acids, and other micro- and macroelements in excess. Habanero will only benefit a healthy mind and body for gourmets, improve mood, improve digestion and the state of the cardiovascular system. In the presence of diseases associated with an ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract, a tendency to allergies, high blood pressure or temperature with the use of acute, it is better to postpone or consult a doctor. Eat hot peppers with meat and fatty side dishes - this will help to bind excess cholesterol and remove it from the body.
