What Are Black peppercorns and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with black peppercorns? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them — with 268 recipes to put them to work.

What are black peppercorns?

Black pepper is produced from the still-green unripe drupes of the pepper plant. The drupes are cooked briefly in hot water, both to clean them and to prepare them for drying. The heat ruptures cell walls in the pepper, speeding the work of browning enzymes during drying.

The drupes are dried in the sun or by machine for several days, during which the pepper around the seed shrinks and darkens into a thin, wrinkled black layer. Once dried, the spice is called black peppercorn. Black peppercorn is considered spicer than white peppercorn.

It is quite surprising that the use of pepper has come so much into fashion, seeing that in other substances which we use, it is sometimes their sweetness, and sometimes their appearance that has attracted our notice.

Pepper loses flavor and aroma through evaporation, so airtight storage helps preserve pepper's original spiciness longer. Pepper can also lose flavor when exposed to light, which can transform piperine into nearly tasteless.

*Once ground, pepper's aromatics can evaporate quickly; most culinary sources recommend grinding whole peppercorns immediately before use for this reason.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tbsp (6g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 15Calories from Fat 1

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.2g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.1g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 2mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 3.9g 1%

Dietary Fiber 2g 6%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 0.7g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 3% • Iron 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Where found

Black peppercorns are usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Black peppercorns are a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do black peppercorns weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tbsp	6 grams
1 teaspoon	2 grams
1 dash	0 grams

Spices and Herbs

Allspice 904 Allspice berries 37 Star anise 178 Aniseed 23 Bay leaves 2049 Caraway seeds 321 Cardamom pods 100 Cardamom seeds 317 Celery seeds 283 Chervil 65

In Chinese:	黑胡椒
British (UK) term:
en français:	grains de poivre noir
en español:	granos de pimienta negra

Recipes using black peppercorns

There are 268 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Adam's Chai Latte Ice Cream

My brother Adam loves this ice cream so much that I asked him for the recipe. It's a Chai Latte with chunks of gingerbread cookies hidden within.

Paneer Basmati Pilaf--Paneer Pulao

Paneer Pulao is a delightful and mildly aromatic Indian rice dish that combines basmati rice with paneer, which is a type of Indian cottage cheese.

Asian Salad Nicoise

This Nicoise Salad is a beautiful play off its French counterpart. It keeps the traditional string beans, potatoes, boiled eggs and tuna, but it adds an Asian inspired dressing that elevates this salad to the next level. By changing the usual white potatoes to sweet potatoes, it becomes a healthier version of the recipe. Sweet potatoes provide more vitamins and minerals than regular potatoes and they have fewer calories. Add in the Omega-3 benefits in the tuna, the protein of the eggs, and fibre-packed beans, and you have got a power packed lunch that tastes like a million dollars. This recipe will certainly be singing to your taste buds tuna.

Favourite Spiced Tea

Favourite spiced tea: a fragrant homemade chai blend of peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger ground fresh, stirred into a pot of tea and served hot with milk and sugar.

Malabar Chicken Curry Recipe

Malabar chicken curry is a spicy and aromatic dish that hails from the Malabar region of India. This curry is made with a unique blend of spices that include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and fennel, which gives it a distinctive taste and aroma. The tender chicken pieces are simmered in a rich and flavorful coconut milk-based gravy, making it a perfect dish for any occasion. The curry can be adjusted to your preferred level of spiciness, making it versatile for all tastes. Whether you're looking to explore new flavors or simply want to add a bit of spice to your meals, Malabar chicken curry is a must-try recipe for any home cook.

Classic Leek & Potato Soup

Classic leek and potato soup, silky from butter-softened leeks and potatoes simmered in stock until they collapse, then mashed rustic-style and finished with cream. Top with croutons and bacon bits.

Chilled Vegetable Soup

great dish when it is hot outside and/or inside.. sometimes a main dish with separately served potatoes, often with meat or sausages.. I like to serve it as a side dish to grilled food.. similar to Lithuanian chilled beat soup, which is fantastic, however they add a lot of cream, hard boiled eggs and do not add radish rather..

Filets of Sole in White Wine Sauce

Filets of sole in white wine sauce poaches delicate sole in an oven-warmed bath of clam juice, dry white wine, garlic, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Elegant French-style fish, low in fat and big in flavor.

Exotic Spiced Pea Pilaf

Flavorful and colorful. A classic Indian dish, the combination of yogurt, tomatoes, potatoes, rice and spices is super tasty and fills you up. Serve it as a side dish with a tangy stew or a main dish with some refreshing chutney.

Tandoori Spice Mix

Very popular Indian spice mix best known for use on Tandoori chicken.

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

Roasted acorn squash soup: foil-roasted squash pureed with sweated onion and garlic, finished with cream, cinnamon, and a whisper of mace for a velvety fall starter.

Austrian Quick Pickled Red Onions

Austrian quick pickled red onions in an apple cider brine with bay leaf, allspice and peppercorns. Bright pink, sweet-tart and warmly spiced. Pile onto dark rye with paprika cheese, burgers, or fish tacos.

Delicious Instant Pot Pot Roast

Wow, the pot roast came out so flavourful and the gravy was also very tasty. We thinly sliced the leftover, used in sandwiches and wraps. Bravo!

Marynowane Pieczarki (Pickled Mushrooms)

Marynowane pieczarki are Polish pickled button mushrooms in a vinegar marinade with black peppercorns and bay leaves. A classic zakaski appetizer served chilled with bread, cured meats, or vodka.

Chinese Broad Bean & Potato Stir-Fry with Noodles

This is a classic dish in Northern China, it's usually made with broad beans, potatoes, pork or beef chunks as you wish, and freshly made noodles. This is an easier version by using spaghetti, I also omit the meat to make it a meatless but still very tasty.