Striped Holland Bell Peppers
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Striped Holland bell peppers are medium to large in size, averaging seven centimeters in length and five centimeters in diameter, and are rounded, square, and globular in shape with 3-4 lobes and a thick green stem. The smooth skin is firm and glossy with a yellow-orange base and deep red stripes that appear as if they were painted vertically on the pepper. Underneath the skin, the vibrant yellow flesh is still striped with the red streaks, has thick walls, and is crisp and succulent with a hollow cavity that contains very small, flat cream-colored seeds and a thin membrane. Striped Holland bell peppers are crunchy, juicy, and dense with a mild, less sweet flavor than regular yellow bell peppers.
Seasons/Availability
Striped Holland bell peppers are available in the spring through summer, but have limited availability depending on the season’s crop.
Current Facts
Striped Holland bell peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum annuum, are a natural hybrid of both yellow and red bell pepper varieties and are members of the Solanaceae family. Also known as Enjoya and Aloha, Striped Holland bell peppers are a fairly new variety that was discovered as a surprise variation in a garden in the Netherlands and have been developed over time to showcase the bi-colored traits. The vertical striping is not passed on through normal plant reproduction, so Striped Holland bell peppers are reproduced using cuttings and hand harvesting, making all the plants genetically identical. Striped Holland bell peppers are a patented variety that is grown through two produce companies, Mastronardi Produce and 4 Evergreen, and are distributed through these companies to retailers around the world.
Nutritional Value
Striped Holland bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and also contain potassium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin B6, beta-carotene, fiber, magnesium, and riboflavin.
Applications
Striped Holland bell peppers are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as sautéing, baking, grilling, and roasting. The bright coloring and striping are best showcased raw, and the peppers can be chopped and added to green salads, sliced for vegetable plates with dips, or diced and mixed into bruschetta for a crunchy appetizer. Striped Holland bell peppers can also be baked to showcase the striping and stuffed with cheeses, grains, and meat, rolled in sushi, baked into lasagna, stuffed into calzones, topped on pizza, chopped into tacos, roasted with meatballs, or skewered with pineapple and pork and grilled. In addition to cooked preparations, the peppers can be sliced in half, hollowed, flattened, and used as bread replacement for sandwiches. Striped Holland bell peppers pair well with quinoa, rice, risotto, lentils, kidney beans, zucchini, Romanesco, cauliflower, squash, mushrooms, potatoes, onions, garlic, cheeses such as goat, feta, mozzarella, and cheddar, almonds, bacon, prosciutto, shrimp, beef, fish, poultry, tomatoes, blackberries, olives, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and coriander. The peppers will keep up to one week when stored unwashed in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In 2016, the Striped Holland bell pepper won third place in innovation at Fruit Logistica, which is a fresh produce trade show held in Berlin, Germany. The pepper was nominated and was chosen out of eighty different entries to be rated by the public during the convention. The Striped Holland bell pepper was recognized for its innovation and was known for having a highly decorative value.
Geography/History
Striped Holland bell peppers are native to the Netherlands, specifically to the town of Est in the province of Gelderland. The colorful pepper was discovered growing in the greenhouse of cultivator Wilfred Van Den Berg in 2013 and was a natural variation of the bell peppers he was growing. Van Den Berg was a grower for Nature’s Alliance, who partnered with Enza Zaden to research the best cultivation practices for the new Striped Holland bell pepper. Today Striped Holland bell peppers are available through licensed retailers and can be found at specialty grocers in Europe and North America.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Striped Holland Bell Peppers. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Enjoya |
|
Striped Bell Pepper Grilled Cheese with Chimichurri |
| Feel Good Foodie |
|
Beef Stuffed Peppers |
