Bell Pepper Colors

Green, orange, and red bell peppers are actually the same pepper picked at different stages of ripeness. Green peppers are harvested early and have a slightly bitter, grassy flavor. As they ripen they turn orange and then red, becoming sweeter and more complex in taste. Red bell peppers have the highest sugar content and the most vitamin C. When a recipe calls for a mix of bell pepper colors, you are essentially combining different flavor profiles from the same plant. This is useful to know when balancing sweetness and bitterness in sauces, salads, and charred vegetable dishes.