Capsicum molasses, or spicy harissa, is a hot pepper paste. It has a hot flavour. It also adds a unique flavor to food. It is considered an essential dish on the dining table for lovers of spicy or spicy foods, especially in Arab and Asian cuisine.

In the following article, we will learn about the nutritional value and health benefits of pepper molasses, its different types, the method of preparation, and is it harmful?

Nutritional value

Not only does pepper molasses add a spicy flavor to food, but it also has a high nutritional value. One tablespoon of it contains:

• 6 calories.
• Half a gram of protein.
• About one and a half grams of carbohydrates.
• Less than one gram of sugar.
• About half a gram of fiber.
• Approximately less than half a gram of fat.

Pepper paste is also rich in many vitamins and important food sources for a healthy body, such as:

• Vitamin C: Pepper molasses has antioxidant properties because it contains a large amount of vitamin C.
• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B group in general plays a role in providing the body with energy, especially vitamin B6.
• Vitamin K1: Vitamin K1 is essential for healthy bones, improving kidney function, and blood clotting.
• Vitamin A: Pepper molasses contains a high percentage of beta-carotene, which is a natural antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A.
• Potassium: It is an important element for protecting the body from serious diseases such as heart disease.
• Copper: Copper is an essential element for strengthening bones and nerve cells.

Benefits of pepper molasses

Capsicum paste is a rich source of the spicy compound capsaicin, which is a naturally occurring substance derived from hot peppers. In addition to containing many antioxidants, which in turn works to protect the body from many diseases. Among the most important health benefits of pepper paste are the following:

• Relieve pain.
• Weight loss.
• Boosting the immune system.
• Improve heart health.

How to make pepper molasses

There are many ways to make pepper paste between different countries. We will learn about the two most common types of pepper molasses in the Arab world..

Syrian pepper molasses method

Syrian cuisine is famous for its many distinctive dishes, including Aleppo pepper molasses, and it is also known as “Aleppo muhammara”. You can make it at home without using an oven, by following these simple steps.

Ingredients of Aleppo pepper molasses

• One kilogram of sweet red pepper.
• One kilogram of hot red pepper.
• White vinegar.
• table salt.
• olive oil.

How to prepare

1. Cut each sweet and hot red pepper in half to get rid of the seeds.
2. Wash the peppers well, inside and out, after cutting them.
3. In a flat bowl, put the pepper pieces, then cover the bowl with a cloth to block the dusty air.
4. In a place that gets direct sunlight, leave the covered pot for 3 days.
5. You can add a pinch of salt to the peppers after the first day has passed to speed up drying of any liquids.
6. After the three days have passed, the peppers will be dry of any liquid.
7. In a food processor, chop the dry pepper until it becomes a smooth paste.
8. Expose the pepper paste, after covering it with a cloth, to direct sunlight again for another day, to get rid of any excess liquids.
9. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the pepper paste.
10. Add a tablespoon of table salt to the pepper paste.
11. Mix the mixture well after adding the salt and vinegar.

Now your Syrian-style pepper paste is ready. You can keep it in an airtight jar with the addition of an appropriate amount of olive oil to enhance the flavor, and to preserve the molasses for as long as possible.

Turkish pepper molasses method

Turkish-style pepper molasses is one of the recipes that women are looking for in the Arab world, due to its ease of preparation and the simplicity of its ingredients. You can easily do it at home by following these steps:

Ingredients for Turkish pepper molasses

• One kilogram of hot red pepper.
• Rock salt, or table salt if rock salt is not available.

How to prepare

• Cut each chili pepper into four pieces.
• Get rid of the seeds in the heart of the peppercorns well.
• In a deep pot, put the hot pepper pieces, then cover it with water, so that the amount of water is sufficient to cover the pepper.
• Put the pot on the fire until it boils for 15 minutes.
• After boiling, filter the peppers from the water.
• In a blender, put the boiled pepper pieces, then mix them to get juice from the hot pepper.
• Strain the pepper juice from any excess liquid, so that it has a consistency more like tomato sauce.
• Add salt to the pepper paste and mix well.
• In a flat bowl put the pepper paste, then expose it to direct sunlight for 3 days.
• Stir the mixture every two hours to maintain its consistency, and cover it at night to avoid exposure to dust.

Now your Turkish-style capsicum paste is ready. In an airtight jar, keep it in a dry place.

Damage to pepper molasses

Pepper molasses may have some harmful effects on some people, including the following:

• burning sensation
• Oral infections.
• swelling or redness
• stomach pain.
• diarrhea.
• Risk of cancer: Some scientific studies have found that excessive consumption of spicy foods may increase the risk of mouth cancer and throat cancer.