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The Turkish pantry

Pepper (black)

Ground black pepper is the seasoning used in the linked recipes; white pepper and red chili are separate options.

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Culinary black pepper, ground for the linked recipes. White pepper and red chili are different seasonings.

Fine ground black pepper in a small ceramic dish

Types & forms

Ground black pepper

Ready to measure and distribute through a dish.

Whole black peppercorns

Grind before using when the recipe calls for ground pepper.

What to look for when buying

  • Choose plain black pepper rather than a seasoning blend containing salt.
  • Buy an amount you can keep tightly closed and dry.

Prepare & cook

  • Measure the ground spice, not an equal spoonful of whole peppercorns.
  • Add gradually and taste cooked food before adding more.

Store it well

  • Keep sealed in a cool, dry cupboard away from steam.
  • Use a clean dry spoon and discard damp or moldy spice.

Substitutions depend on the dish

White pepper

It changes the aroma; use only if that difference suits the dish. Chili adds a different kind of heat.

Nutrition

Spices, pepper, black [1]

Per 100 g edible portion
NutrientAmount
Energy251 kcal
Protein10.4 g
Total fat3.26 g
Saturated fat1.39 g
Carbohydrate64 g
Dietary fiber25.3 g
Total sugars0.64 g
Sodium20 mg
Cholesterol0 mg
Calcium443 mg
Iron9.71 mg
Potassium1,330 mg
Vitamin D0 µg

Plain dried black pepper reference, not a salted blend. The source does not provide separate analyses for every grind. Values are rounded for readability; “not reported” does not mean zero. A “<” value is below the source’s measurement limit.

[1] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Spices, pepper, black

Nutrition values come from the reference source named above. They are published reference values, not our own measurements. Actual products and cooking methods may change the values.

At the Turkish table

Black pepper seasons our lentil soup and fish sandwich. It is separate from the pul biber used in the egg and lentil-patty recipes.