Capsicums are part of the nightshade family and are from the same species that produce cayenne or chilli peppers. Technically, although we use them as a vegetable, capsicums are actually a fruit, and they are believed to have originated in South America. Christopher Columbus is credited with introducing the capsicum to Europe from where it spread to Africa and Asia. Today, capsicum is a favorite food the world over, and for very good reason.
Healing capsicum
It was from capsicum that scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi was first able to isolate the compound vitamin C in usable quantities. For a long time, it was known that citrus like oranges, lemons, and limes could prevent scurvy, which is vitamin C deficiency. Of course, in the early stages, it was not known that vitamin C existed, but just that citrus could prevent the dreadful symptoms of scurvy in sailors. By 1907, however, researchers Axel Holst and Alfred Frohlich proposed the existence of “vitamin C”, this substance that could be made by neither guinea pigs nor humans and lack of which led to scurvy. However, although orange juice and lemon juice have high levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), they contain sugars that make purification of vitamin C extremely difficult. So this “vitamin C” remained unisolated until in 1933 Szent-Györgyi managed it, deriving ascorbic acid from paprika made from capsicum. Vitamin C, however, is just the beginning of what capsicum has to offer.
This story is from the Issue #32, 2020 edition of Eat Well.
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This story is from the Issue #32, 2020 edition of Eat Well.
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ARE YOU TO FU enough?
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Sweet TRAYBAKES
Whether you want to feed a group of people or make a batch of treats for the week, traybaking is a no-fuss way to cook up something sweet and easy that will please everyone. Your family and friends will love you when you offer them some of our: cinnamon scrolls; fruity chocolate; espresso brownies; lemon & coconut slice; or ginger cake with brown butter frosting.
ROLL UP
When you roll food, whether in Lebanese bread, a thin pancake or whatever you choose, you can create a parcel of nutrition that is perfectly suited to your own tastes and needs. Here are some roll-up recipes that will suit every occasion including: mango, snow pea, & sprout rice paper rolls; oat crepes with coconut yoghurt & mixed berries; or beef meatball & tzatziki flatbreads.
RICE BOWL Lunches
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Pies are a piece of gastronomic brilliance: a filling with a case and lid you can eat is food genius. The first pies date back to Egyptian times and there is a recipe for chicken pie that was carved into stone more than 4000 years ago. For millennia, however, the pie casing was mostly used to cook the filling, but for around 500 years or more we have been eating the pie crust too.
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Eggplant is a wonderful option for vegans and vegetarians, extremely nutritious and highly versatile in the kitchen.
5 PANTRY SAVIOURS
Whether you're cooking a simple breakfast or something more exotic, here are five pantry food staples you should have on hand to cook plenty of delicious meals in the comfort of your own home.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Cucumbers are delicious fresh but they also offer plenty more options in the kitchen.
Our Chefs
Meet the chefs who bring this issue's recipes to you: Lisa Guy, Georgia Harding, Lee Holmes, Sammy Jones, Raquel Neofit, Naomi Sherman and Ames Starr.