Peppadews

Ah, the Peppadew^TM. Peppa-who, you say? If you are unfamiliar with this little red bite of deliciousness, it’s not surprising; the Peppadew has only been around for a few years. They are found exclusively in South Africa in the Eastern Cape. A farmer happened upon one, and in what could have been a fatal move, ate it. Luckily for him (and us!), he was pleased with the refreshing sweet/spicy taste and crisp texture of the fruit. He named it the Peppadew, trademarked the name, and finagled exclusive growing, packaging and selling of the fruit.

My first encounter with this delicious little pepper (I really can’t think of it as anything else) was on a winter trip last year to South Africa. Given that the Peppadew is native to the country, they are found absolutely everywhere in a variety of dishes. You can find Peppadews in pizza, in salads, on sandwiches, roasted, as an appetizer, an ingredient in a riff on bruschetta—the possibilities are endless. My favorite way to eat Peppadews is in salad; they are so wonderfully fresh that I can best appreciate their taste among other veggies.

I was devastated when I left South Africa; I could only fit three jars of Peppadews in my already packed suitcase. I craved the taste of them constantly and begged my sister to bring me more jars when she next visited the States. Then—after an absolutely rotten day at work—I discovered jars of Peppadews in the Whole Foods by my apartment. My joy was only eclipsed by the fact that they were served in the olive bar as well, and at a slightly lower price point. Now, I buy them at least twice a week and eat them every day (um, sometimes twice). Fortunately for me, this is a guilt-free indulgence. If you’re not near a Whole Foods, you may also order them online at www.peppadewusa.com.

Try the below for a healthy and tasty salad; the addition of chicken (or shrimp, if you prefer) means that you can serve this salad as a light summer dinner:

Ingredients:
-Romaine lettuce
-Dried apricots, sliced
-Roasted chicken, chilled and shredded into bite-sized pieces
(alternately, simply grilled or sautéed shrimp would make a great addition)
-Crumbled goat cheese
-Peppadews!

Mix ingredients together, in whatever proportions you prefer. Toss lightly with a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar; add a dash of freshly ground pepper and serve.