Pink Peppercorns

If you’re looking to spice up a salad, pasta dish, or virtually any side dish or entree, think about sprinkling pink peppercorns on the top.  In contrast to red, white, green, or black peppercorns which are hard and crunchy and really need to be ground to release their powerful flavor, pink peppercorns are light, airy, and have a hollow like texture making them very easy to eat.

In terms of flavor, pink peppercorns are slightly sweet with a very light peppery flavor (so you won’t be overwhelmed with eating them straight). These super beautiful and tasty dried berries add color, texture, and flavor to almost any dish.

Grown primarily in Brazil, pink peppercorns are a member of the cashew family so they are considered to be in the tree nut family.  The tiny reddish-pink berries are usually dried and then sold as a spice or condiment (since technically, pink peppercorns are a dried tree nut fruit).

A jar of pink peppercorns is kept right on my counter because I use them all the time, especially on salads.  If you ever make timbales (they sound and look difficult but they are super easy to make), then a dusting of pink peppercorns over the top makes for a beautiful presentation, an added crunch, and a burst of flavor.Pink Peppercorns can be purchased at most spice stores including Penzy’s, Vitacost, or Amazon. Note:  I buy pink peppercorns primarily through Amazon because a 4 ounce bag of Hoosier Hill Farm Pink Peppercorns ($11.99) has always been available. But, the 4 ounce bag can also be purchased directly from Hoosier Hill Farm for $10.99.