Chilli peppers add a nice kick to recipes but did you know they are the object of superstitions? Certain cultures around the world attribute supernatural properties to chilles and use them as amulets. Interesting, no?
Let's take a look at two popular superstitions regarding chilli peppers:
Every Saturday morning, Indian Hindu families perform a ritual thought to bring them luck: they take 7 green chillies and a lemon and string them all together to form a kind of pendant.
This little vegetable ornament is then hung in a safe part of the house, usually under the table, and is left there until the following Saturday, when it is burnt and substituted with a new one.
Hindus believe that this device drives bad spirits out of the house. This special string of chillies and lemon is also hung in front of businesses for good luck.
Chilli peppers are considered the ‘demon’s spice’ in southern Italy. However, some locals use it for personal protection, or to protect your car or your house from the evil eye and gossipers.
Just hang a fresh string of chillies in the house, at the door or on the balcony, or perhaps carry a plastic ‘horn’, which looks like a chilli, in your pocket as a lucky charm. Tradition dictates the chillies should be fresh, not dry, to ensure good fortune.
Whether or not you’re convinced by these benefits, one thing is undoubtedly true of chilli peppers: fresh, flaked or powdered, they add a delicious heat to your cooking. Not only that, but they’re also thought to have a number of health benefits and are packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, B6, K1 and A, as well as potassium and copper.
Chilli peppers are used in cuisines around the world and you can turn up the heat by testing out different recipes in your kitchen. How about this hearty chilli and cheese casserole recipe made with beef and one finely chopped red chilli pepper? Offering an insight into dishes from all over the world, from South America to South East Asia, this article has six chilli pepper recipes for you to try, including chilli jam and banana chilli soup.
