Black pepper recipes (2024)

Table of Contents
Storage Preparation FAQs

Pepper is a condiment that has been salt's partner on Western tables for hundreds of years. It adds a flavour of its own to dishes, as well as enhancing the taste of other ingredients. A spice indigenous to southern India, it stimulates the appetite and gives food a gentle warmth. Black pepper comes from a climbing vine, the fruits of which - small round berries - ripen from green to red and finally to brown. Black peppercorns are actually berries that are picked when they're just turning red. They are then dried whole before being sold. Peppercorns can be green, white or black, depending on when they are harvested. Pink ‘peppercorns’, however, are not true pepper.

Storage

Store black pepper in the same way as other spices. Whole peppercorns keep for longer than ground pepper. Remember: ready-ground and cracked pepper will eventually go stale, just like other ground spices.

Preparation

Peppercorns can be used whole, crushed or ground to add heat and flavour to cooking. Use them whole in stews and soups or as part of a bouquet garni. You will often find whole peppercorns spicing up salamis or sausages.

Freshly ground peppercorns have much more flavour than ready-ground pepper, so buy fresh whole peppercorns and invest in a pepper grinder. Try grinding fresh black pepper over a bowl of strawberries and see how it enhances the flavour of the fruit, releasing a very subtle pepper flavour.

Lightly crushed or cracked peppercorns can be used to spice up creamy sauces or to coat fillet steaks or chicken breasts. The light crushing releases the fragrant spiciness; using ground pepper in this way would just release too much heat.

Black pepper's flavour diminishes during cooking, so it's best to season dishes towards the end of cooking or at the table.

Black pepper recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the black pepper high trick? ›

For best results, crack open a few whole peppercorns, take a nice deep inhale, being careful not to actually snort the pepper, and then chew on them for a bit. There is enough evidence to support that this may help you ease into a relaxed high.

How to enhance black pepper flavor? ›

To amplify the complexity of black pepper and not only the piperine heat, use other spices and herbs that balance and complement black pepper's inherent flavors. Rosemary adds notes of pine, cardamom and coriander add hints of citrus, juniper berries bring a woody characteristic, and anise seed adds subtle sweetness.

What spices go well with black pepper? ›

Since black pepper is found in so many recipes, it tends to play well with other herbs and spices. Salt and pepper is a classic pairing that balances out most dishes. Other spices like rosemary, thyme, garlic, and paprika are also tasty pairings that complement the spice.

What can too much black pepper do to you? ›

You may experience indigestion, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal issues, though, if you eat too much. If it accidentally gets into the lungs, black pepper could even result in death, especially in children. In some cases, individuals who are allergic to black pepper will have a severe respiratory reaction.

Is black pepper good for anxiety? ›

The terpene caryophyllene—which is present in spices and herbs like black pepper, rosemary, and lavender—is associated with reducing symptoms of anxiety, according to Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS, co-director of the medical cannabis science and therapeutics program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

When not to use black pepper? ›

Bleeding conditions: Piperine, a chemical in black pepper, might slow blood clotting. In theory, taking black pepper in amounts greater than those in food might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders. Diabetes: Black pepper might affect blood sugar levels.

What is the best way to use black pepper? ›

Black pepper can be added to salads by sprinkling a pinch of salt on them. Add some black pepper while frying an omelette. You can add some black pepper to soups, sauces, steak and Bacon, fish and meat. You can add it to some of the hamburgers and sausages.

Do you need turmeric with black pepper? ›

Combining the spice with black pepper may help increase your body's ability to absorb turmeric's beneficial compounds. A substance in black pepper called piperine, when combined with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%.

What happens to your body when you eat black pepper everyday? ›

Black pepper, one of the most universally used spices, contains a powerful compound called piperine. Piperine offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, potentially reducing chronic disease risk. Piperine also aids in the absorption of antioxidants and other essential nutrients.

Is pepper bad for your kidneys? ›

If you have been diagnosed with calcium oxalate kidney stones, your doctor may recommend that you limit your intake of foods that contain higher amounts of oxalate, such as beets, black pepper, black tea, chocolate, nuts, potatoes, rhubarb, soy products, and spinach.

Is black pepper ok for high blood pressure? ›

Black pepper

Available in almost all Indian kitchens, black pepper or kaali mirch is a strong and pungent spice. It is hot in potency, light to digest and balances Vata and Kapha. It is best for people who have high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension or blood pressure.

How does black pepper help a high? ›

The Black Pepper Trick

Eating or sniffing black peppercorns is another well-known trick for bringing down a high. Black pepper contains a terpene called beta-caryophyllene, which, in combination with marijuana's tetrahydrocannabinol, increases the sedating effects of THC and can subdue feelings of paranoia.

What is the pepper trick? ›

Steps to Performing the Trick

Shake some pepper onto the water's surface. Dip your finger into the pepper and water (Nothing much will happen). However, if you put a drop of dishwashing liquid on your finger and then dip it into the pepper and water the pepper will rush to the outer edges of the dish.

What does smoking black pepper do? ›

Early research shows that puffing on a vapor device using black pepper oil over 3 hours may reduce cigarette cravings and anxiety in men who smoke. Trouble swallowing.

What is the pepper ghost method? ›

In a Pepper's Ghost Illusion, when a real or recorded image is reflected in a transparent screen at a 45o angle, viewers see a reflected virtual image that seems to have depth and appear out of nowhere .

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 6496

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.