Spicy Steamed Peppers Made Easily in the Microwave
How to Make Spicy Steamed Peppers with a Microwave (No Steamer Needed!)
I made these spicy and refreshing steamed peppers using 100% organic, pesticide-free peppers harvested from my garden. They are a perfect side dish that will make you want to eat more rice! Forget about setting up a steamer; you can easily make these in the microwave in just a few minutes. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients- About 20 green chili peppers (adjust to size)
- 7 Tbsp glutinous rice flour or all-purpose flour (to coat the peppers)
Seasoning Sauce (Will mature beautifully!)- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (for umami)
- 3 Tbsp chopped green onions (for fragrance)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (for a pungent flavor)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (for a subtle sweetness and depth)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar (can substitute with 1 Tbsp sugar if plum extract is unavailable)
- 1 + 1/2 Tbsp perilla oil or sesame oil (for nutty flavor)
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes (for spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and garnish)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (for umami)
- 3 Tbsp chopped green onions (for fragrance)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (for a pungent flavor)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (for a subtle sweetness and depth)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar (can substitute with 1 Tbsp sugar if plum extract is unavailable)
- 1 + 1/2 Tbsp perilla oil or sesame oil (for nutty flavor)
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes (for spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and garnish)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the seasoning sauce, which is key to delicious steamed peppers. Combine all the sauce ingredients listed above in a bowl and mix well. Making this in advance allows the flavors to meld together while the peppers are steaming, creating a richer taste.
Step 2
Wash the green chili peppers thoroughly, then remove the stems. Make a slit down the center of each pepper and open them up. Use a spoon or your fingers to carefully scrape out and remove all the seeds. Removing the seeds ensures a clean, non-bitter taste.
Step 3
After removing the seeds, lightly rinse the peppers under water. Don’t pat them dry completely; place them directly into a resealable bag or plastic wrap while they are still moist. The residual moisture on the peppers is important for helping the flour coating adhere well.
Step 4
Generously sprinkle the glutinous rice flour or all-purpose flour over the peppers in the bag. This will create a crispy coating, almost like tempura batter. Using glutinous rice flour will give a chewier texture, while all-purpose flour will yield a lighter crisp.
Step 5
Seal the bag and shake it vigorously in various directions so that the flour evenly coats all the peppers. Imagine you’re shaking a cocktail shaker! If the mixture seems too dry or the flour isn’t sticking well, lightly spritz a little more water from a spray bottle to help the flour adhere.
Step 6
Place the flour-coated peppers directly into a microwave-safe dish, or keep them in the bag and microwave on the ‘defrost’ setting for about 5 minutes. Check the peppers halfway through to see how they are cooking. Remove them once they are tender and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook, as they can become mushy.
Step 7
Transfer the steamed peppers to the prepared seasoning sauce and toss gently to coat, or for an even simpler cleanup, add the sauce directly into the bag with the peppers and shake well! You’ll have delicious steamed peppers with minimal mess. They are perfect as a side dish with rice or even as a snack.
Step 8
Enjoy your meal! ^^
