Trends: Shishito Peppers

They are here: shisito peppers have been popping up all over menus around the country and Colorado restaurants have embraced the trend. A coveted sweet Japanese pepper, similar to the better known Padron pepper, the shisito is full of flavor and mild. Prepared simply, these are a spectacular snack before a meal or just as a popcorn-like snack with a strong cocktail.

At Bones, Frank Bonanno started riding the shisito pepper train years ago. Along side staple small plates like spring rolls and potstickes, Bonanno includes a bowl of lightly fried shisito peppers topped with togarashi. He shares his frying secrets in a video here. 

Oak at Fourteenth serves them fried with the rich Spanish Iberico de Bellota Lomo in a thin harissa sauce with a healthy sprinkle of sea salt. This more intricate preparation is outrageous.

At the Corner Office, one can get a big bowl of shishito peppers prepared very simply - lightly fried and hit with quality sea salt  - hard to beat simplicity when the star ingredient is great. 

Pizzeria Basta's version Shishito peppers throws them in the pizza oven where they get the wood-fire treatment to blister their skins. They get topped with espelette pepper powder from France. 

Get on the shishito train and send us your best finds from around town!