Air Fryer Shishito Peppers – Food Faith Fitness

Snack like popcorn, but guilt-free!

Jordie moved into our roommate’s house in San Francisco, complete with a thousand food tricks learned from a lifetime in the food industry. Working together, The Food Lab was born, with birria, bok choy, and mapo tofu getting prepped, cooked, eaten, and then analyzed for strengths and weaknesses. One night, when gearing up for an Asian feast, I was scouring the market looking for an appetizer when Jordie approached me, beaming and clutching a bag of shishito peppers. I had never tried them before, and a few hours later, after we’d seared them and dunked them in soy sauce and ginger, I thought I was eating the best substitute for popcorn in the world. Earning The Food Lab’s approval, they became a mainstay on the menu.

The Portuguese supposedly brought the peppers to Japan in the 16th century, where the name shishito came from the Japanese word shishi, meaning “lion” — named because the peppers have a creased green tip that is said to resemble the head of a lion. Shishito peppers soon became a fixture in Japanese cuisine, being carefully bred for specific flavor characteristics. Nowadays, with the rise of izakayas (Japanese bars that serve snacks) shishito peppers have become a common snacking item on many menus.

Shishito peppers are young, green peppers; if they were left on the plant to mature, they would eventually turn bright red. The skin is glossy and wrinkled, but thin and crisp. The peppers can have notes of citrus and ground pepper, and when charred, will have a lovely smoky undertone. Lemon, olive oil, and salt enhance the natural sweet zing of a shishito, and a sesame seed topping gives an extra crunch and nutty flavor.

Are Air Fryer Shishito Peppers Healthy?

Low-carb, low-calorie, and gluten-free, shishito peppers are a healthy snack. They are rich in vitamins A and C, along with antioxidants, which can be beneficial for your immune system as well as skin, heart, and eye health.

Sitting Low on the Scoville Scale

For the most part, shishito peppers rank fairly low on the Scoville scale, averaging 50-200 Scoville Heat Units per pepper. However, beware! One out of every ten peppers will be extra spicy, making for a fun gamble as you eat.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 ounces shishito peppers
• Olive oil spray
• Kosher salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Clean peppers and spritz with oil; preheat air fryer.

Cook

Air fry peppers until charred, shaking halfway.

Serve

Season with salt and zest, add lemon, and serve warm.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

Serving Suggestions

This is a classic appetizer for a night spent with friends enjoying healthy California roll sushi bites, spicy tuna, or sushi burritos. Your options for dipping sauces are endless, as gyoza sauce, Japanese BBQ sauce, and lemon aioli will all taste exquisite. Or, just serve the peppers over a mound of rice and call yourself the Healthiest Person in the World.