Red Bell Pepper
This recipe comes from my brother’s suggestions, when I was first starting to make interesting simple syrups and coffee recipes.
The Recipe Section
This recipe comes from my brother’s suggestions, when I was first starting to make interesting simple syrups and coffee recipes. He’s a bartender and mezcal ambassador out in long island; he does some really cool stuff.
Red Bell Pepper
It’s fresh and time to bring in Spring. Even though it’s May.
It’s time to bring in Summer*!
Red Bell Pepper is a secret ingredient in a lot of cocktail bars’ repetoires, and for good reason.
For the syrup
5 red bell peppers, fresh and plump [take off the stems]
1 ½ cups sugar
0.56 cups water
BLEND! BLEND!!!!!!! BLENENENENENEND!!! Annihilate it in a blender.
If you don’t have a blender, you can place a red bell pepper in a mason jar with 1:1 simple syrup [warm], and steep until cool (about an hour), then remove the red bell pepper.
Strain
For the drink
Try this with a shot of espresso and go from there. Espresso Romano is an espresso shot with lemon, and bell pepper is also acidic [although not nearly as much, it’s slightly more alkaline than coffee].
Mix a latte with red bell pepper syrup, and enjoy your brighter, acidic coffee. I wouldn’t serve this to customers, but I’d try it if you’ve made this syrup; it gives a great idea of how it works with milk and espresso.
Red Bell Pepper Americano
You ever had a peach americano? This is that.
Americano
1.5oz Red Bell Pepper syrup
Mix the syrup with the espresso first
Add hot water to complete the drink [6–8oz]
Some excellent additions
Porcini mushrooms (just not in the same syrup with the peppers)
Red pepper flakes
Black Pepper
Black Salt [maybe don’t do both. Also, black salt is very sulfurous; an eggy, acquired taste]
Lime and Orange, in any form that isn’t going to curdle your milk
Vanilla [not vanilla syrup unless that vanilla syrup is very strong]
Cardmom Bitters [not for coffee drinks; don’t put secret alcohol in your customers’ drinks]
Some more reading
Home Speakeasy’s “South of the Border, West of the Sun” cocktail.
Thirsty Camel Cocktail’s “Dreams of Summer” cocktail.
Mary Robinette Kowal’s Amal’s Hospitality mocktail.