What is Dungan pepper and how can it be used

Anyone who has been to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, probably met a green vegetable of a bizarrely corrugated shape in the markets. This is a relatively new variety of hot pepper, the name of which is Dungan.

This product has already gained popularity among the people, and this happened not only because of its exquisite taste, but also because of its low cost. Let's take a look at how to use Dungan pepper and what they are.

Characteristics of Dungan pepper

This vegetable inherited its name from the name of the nation that grows it. The Dungans are an ethnic group that migrated from China to Kyrgyzstan, southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan after the defeat in the Ikhetuan uprising in 1989-1901... It is in this area that a new type of hot pepper is now being grown.

Dungan pepper is easy to distinguish from other bitter varieties by its appearance. Its size is smaller than the palm, it is bright green in color and has folds like an accordion.

Dungan pepper is grown in the same way as common bitter pepper. In late February - early March, seeds are planted for seedlings, after about 10 days the first shoots appear.

It is better to use separate cups for planting. Several seeds should be planted in each of them in order to choose a stronger sprout after germination, and remove the rest.

Attention! For this vegetable, lighting is extremely important, so it is better that the seedlings stand on the sunny side - the most optimal option for this would be the south side of the apartment.

Seedlings are transplanted into open ground 50-70 days after sowing the seeds, approximately in the second or third decade of May. Seedlings are planted in the ground at a distance of 35 cm between bushes and 50 cm between rows. By mid-July, the pepper bushes will delight you with their first fruits and continue to bear fruit until mid-October.

Important! It is not recommended to plant hot peppers near sweet peppers, as the latter can acquire a bitter taste.

Composition and properties

Dungan pepper is a type of hot pepper, but with a milder flavor than regular pepper.

According to the degree of pungency, the vegetable is divided into:

• weakly burning;
• medium hot;
• strong burning.

The mild-burning species is slightly different from the other two species in shape: it is shorter and somewhat thicker than its counterparts.

Dungan pepper is very fragrant, in this it differs significantly from the usual hot. It is also distinguished by a more meaty structure, which makes it possible to prepare not only salads and sauces, but also separate independent dishes.

Cooking tricks

Dungan cuisine is unique and interesting. It represents an independent direction of oriental cuisine and is divided into three categories: everyday, festive and ritual.

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Pepper occupies a special place in the national cuisine, from which the Dungans prepare many delicious and varied dishes. It is canned for the winter, pickled, added to salads and sauces, in the first and second courses, fried with meat in batter. This vegetable can be frozen for the winter and dried.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with some recipes for dishes from this amazing vegetable.

Important! It is best to use disposable gloves to handle the product while cooking.

Dungan stuffed peppers in batter

This unusual dish will definitely not leave you indifferent. To prepare you need:

1. Dungan pepper - 6-8 pcs.
2. Minced meat - 300 g.
3. Chicken egg - 2 pcs.
4. Flour - 2 tbsp. spoons.
5. Ground coriander - 0.5 tsp
6. Garlic - 2 cloves.
7. Salt to taste.
8. Vegetable oil for frying.

First cut the product lengthwise and remove the seeds.

Then minced meat is prepared. Pour ground coriander into the twisted meat and squeeze out the garlic, add salt to taste.

After the filling is ready, fill each half of the pepper with minced meat, pressing it down a little and evenly distributing it along its entire length.

The next step is making batter. To do this, take the eggs and beat them a little together with a pinch of salt and flour. Bring the batter to a homogeneous consistency - so that there are no undissolved lumps in it.

The dish is almost ready. Now it remains to dip the stuffed halves of the prepared vegetable in batter and fry on both sides in vegetable oil. First fry the peppers on the side of the mince and then turn over. Dungan stuffed peppers are ready.

It is better to serve such a dish with vegetables and bread.

Dungan pepper pickled

This recipe is perfect for spicy lovers. Pickled peppers will add spice to any side dish or meat.

For cooking you will need:

1. Dungan pepper - 1 kg.
2. Garlic - 8 cloves.
3. Water - 1 l.
4. Vegetable oil - 250 ml.
5. Sugar - 4 tbsp. l.
6. Salt - 1 tbsp l.
7. Vinegar 9% - 250 ml.
8. Black pepper (peas) - 10-15 pcs.
9. Bay leaf - 1-2 pcs.

All ingredients are sized for two liter cans.

We clean the peppers from the tails and seeds. We take out the seeds without damaging the integrity of the product. If you can't keep it intact, you can cut it lengthwise.

Prepare the marinade. Boil the required amount of water and add sugar, salt, black pepper, bay leaf, vegetable oil, 4 cloves of garlic to it. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Simultaneously with the preparation of the marinade, we sterilize the jars. You can sterilize in any usual way: steam, or pour boiling water over the jars.

When the marinade comes to a boil, reduce the heat and place the pepper in the boiling solution. After that, we mark for five minutes and simmer. At the end of the process, add vinegar.

Spread the remaining garlic evenly into sterilized jars. After the mixture has stewed a little in the marinade, use a slotted spoon to spread it over the jars and fill it with hot marinade. We roll up the lids, carefully turn the jar upside down and wrap it with a warm blanket. In this state, the canned food should be left to cool completely.

Store this Dungan vegetable tapas in your basement or refrigerator.

Dungan pepper for the winter

This recipe is similar to the pickled pepper recipe, but instead of pickling we use tomato juice.

For cooking, you need the following ingredients:

1. Dungan pepper - 10-15 pcs.
2. Tomatoes - 3 kg.
3. Garlic - 3-4 cloves.
4. Black pepper (peas) - 10 pcs.
5. Salt - 2 tablespoons
6. Sugar - 3 tablespoons
7. A sprig of dill with an umbrella - 1 pc.
8. Horseradish leaf - 1 pc.
9. Vinegar - 1 tsp

All listed ingredients are designed for one two-liter can.

First, let's prepare the tomato juice. Twist the washed and peeled tomatoes in a meat grinder. Pour the resulting mixture into a non-stick saucepan and place over medium heat until boiling.

Next, wash and dry the peppers. You do not need to peel this vegetable from seeds.

When the tomato juice boils, we leave it to simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.

At this time, we prepare the jars - wash and sterilize in any way convenient for you.

Then dip the Dungan pepper into the tomato juice and bring the resulting mixture to a boil.

At the bottom of a sterilized jar, put a horseradish leaf, an umbrella of dill, salt, sugar, pepper, black peas and garlic. Fill 2/3 with Dungan pepper and fill with tomato. At the end, pour vinegar into the jar and roll up the lids.

Turn the finished cans upside down, cover with a blanket and leave in this form until they cool completely.

Storage features

Like all vegetables, Dungan peppers cannot stay fresh, aromatic and healthy for a long time. Therefore, there are various ways to store it. Some of them are listed above: pickling and canning.

Also, Dungan peppers can be to freeze. You should first clear the vegetable from seeds and cut into pieces. Another storage method is drying. Peppers can be dried using an electric vegetable dryer or in the sun.

A vegetable preserved in this way can be used to make spices or sauces.

Benefit and harm

Before talking about contraindications to use, let us note its positive qualities.

Thanks to capsaicin, pepper has the following properties useful for the human body:

• reduces the risk of tumor diseases;
• reduces sugar content in the body;
• prevents inflammation;
• acts as an analgesic and antiseptic.

Dungan pepper is rich in vitamins C, A and B vitamins, as well as elements such as iron, potassium and magnesium.

Contraindications to the use of pepper

With all the positive qualities available, the vegetable should be used with caution by people with cardiovascular diseases.

It is strictly forbidden to eat Dungan pepper for diseases such as:

• vascular atherosclerosis;
• gastritis;
• kidney disease;
• liver pathology;
• stomach ulcer.

An allergic reaction may well develop. It manifests itself as a sharp reddening of the skin of the face. No treatment is required for allergies - just eliminate this product from your diet.

Read also:

What vitamins are in bell pepper and how is it useful for the body.

A selection of the top 20 most delicious ways to pickle zucchini for the winter in jars.

What and how are bean seeds formed?

Outcome

Dungan hot peppers are a unique vegetable that can be used to prepare many varied, colorful traditional Asian dishes. Condiments, preserves, marinades, stuffed dishes and salads, independent dishes and much more are made from it.

When eating a Dungan vegetable, remember that only a moderate amount will be beneficial. In addition, in some cases, its addition to the diet is contraindicated.