Green Sichuan Pepper

What is green Sichuan pepper?

The green Sichuan pepper comes, as its name indicates, from a province of China, Sichuan. Despite its name, it is not really a pepper, but a berry that belongs to the Rutaceae family. It belongs to the genus Zanthoxylum piperitum in the same way as the Sansho pepper. This difference is marked by the fact that it is not the seed that is exploited, but its shell. The visual difference is obvious. This shell, called pericarp, can be used whole by letting it infuse. You can of course crush or grind it according to the recipe you want to make. Sichuan pepper is one of the oldest spices in China. It has a major place in Sichuanese, Cantonese and Tibetan cuisine. It was imported to Europe by Marco Polo to become an essential spice in Venice before disappearing from European kitchens until the 19th century. It was then that botanists brought it back into the limelight and it is now favored by great chefs.

What is the flavor of Sichuan Green pepper?

Citrus fruits belong to the Rutaceae family. This may explain the lime notes of this unique pepper. There are also notes of green tea very floral. We appreciate the freshness of this green Sichuan pepper which comes to decorate your dishes. Since it is not really a pepper, it does not bring this side piquant that one could imagine, but rather slightly acid flavors. Green Sichuan pepper is not unlike combawa powder.

The harvest of the Green Sichuan Pepper in the plantations

Produced on a Zanthoxylum piperitum, Green Sichuan Pepper is a berry that is harvested before maturity. It is then dried so that the seed is released and only the pericarp, the part of the berry that envelops the seed, remains.

How to use Green Sichuan Pepper in cooking

In the kitchen, green Sichuan pepper is great. It brings so much freshness with its citrus notes. Of course, you can pair it with meats, especially since Sichuanese cuisine offers us great recipes for spicy pork or chicken. However, unlike the traditional green pepper, it is more with fish and other seafood that it will marry. Thus, it is possible to imagine a fish with chilli and Sichuan pepper to bring spice and freshness to your dish. Accompanied by sunny vegetables, your fish will be delicious. The Sichuan style fish stew will also be enhanced with green Sichuan pepper for its citrus notes. Mackerel, cod, coconut milk, zucchini, carrots and other shallots, a few spices, it is enough to make a dish of very beautiful quality. This pepper also finds its place in your desserts. Lime and coconut bavarois with a chocolate ganache and a little pepper, panna cotta on a bed of clementines with Sichuan green pepper, try original recipes to highlight this berry.

The health benefits of green Sichuan pepper

The Sichuan berry is used by Chinese doctors to treat dental ailments and skin problems. They use the shell. As this berry is not a pepper, it does not contain piperine, which has many virtues.

Recipes with Green Sichuan Pepper

Exotic seafood salad

Ingredients: shrimp, scallops, mango, avocado, fresh coriander, lime, green Sichuan pepper.

Crispy tofu with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: tofu, corn flour, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, frying oil.

Duck breast with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: duck breast, green Sichuan pepper, salt, olive oil.

Spicy vegetable soup with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: mixed vegetables (carrots, peppers, mushrooms, broccoli), vegetable broth, green Sichuan pepper, red pepper, soy sauce.

Chicken sautéed with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: chicken fillets, green Sichuan pepper, onion, garlic, soy sauce, vegetable oil.

Marinated green Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: green Sichuan pepper, rice vinegar, sugar, salt.

Grilled fish fillet with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: fish fillet (salmon, sea bream, sea bass), green Sichuan pepper, salt, olive oil.

Shrimps sautéed with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: shrimps, green Sichuan pepper, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, vegetable oil.

Poached pears with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: pears, green Sichuan pepper, sugar, red wine, cinnamon.

Roasted chicken with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: whole chicken, green Sichuan pepper, salt, herbes de Provence, olive oil.

Beef sautéed with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: beef fillet, green Sichuan pepper, onion, bell bell pepper, soy sauce, vegetable oil.

Green beans sautéed with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: green beans, green Sichuan pepper, garlic, soy sauce, vegetable oil.

Mushroom soup with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: mushrooms (button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms), vegetable broth, green Sichuan pepper, fresh cream.

Grilled lamb chops with Sichuan pepper

Ingredients: lamb chops, green Sichuan pepper