Originating in South and Central America, bell peppers have been cultivated for thousands of years. Available in a variety of colours: red, orange, yellow, green, and even purple, they are related to chili peppers, tomatoes, and breadfruit.
All bell peppers start out as green, but their colour and ripeness depend on the amount of time the pepper spends on the plant. Red peppers are riper, and their flavour is typically sweeter, milder, and generally easier for most people to digest. They can be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or powdered.
Bell peppers are an excellent addition to a healthy diet as they are mainly composed of water with smaller amounts of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and fat. Rich in many vitamins, antioxidants, and carotenoids they are beneficial for eye health and reduced risk of anaemia.
Peppers can be enjoyed as a snack, in a salad, stuffed, grilled, roasted, pickled, raw, or sautéed as shown in the one pan chicken fajitas recipe below.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 3 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 medium white onion
- 1 lime
- 3 red and yellow bell peppers
- 5 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- ¾ tsp. chili powder
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. cumin powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. oregano
- Salt to taste
Directions:
- Slice onion and bell peppers (seeds and stems removed) into ¼ inch thick slices.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine 3 tbsp. of olive oil, juice of half a lime, chili and garlic powder, paprika, cumin, black pepper, oregano, and salt to taste. Slice chicken breasts into thin strips and add to the spice mixture.
- Add half the chicken pieces to a large non- stick frying pan or skillet and sauté over medium to high heat until cooked, about four to five minutes. Remove from pan and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Set cooked chicken aside and add 2 tbsp. of olive oil and the sliced onions to the frying pan. Sauté for two minutes then add the sliced peppers and continue sautéing until peppers are cooked and brown at the edges. Add the cooked chicken and combine with the peppers and onion until heated through.
- Serve chicken fajitas over warm tortillas with a squeeze of lime, avocado, sour cream, and pico de gallo.
Bon Appétit!
