Is a Jalapeño a Vegetable?
Jalapeños are considered to be a type of chili pepper, a group of Capsicum annuum peppers. While the jalapeños are certainly a form of pepper, many consider them to be a type of vegetable.
Botanical Classification
From a botanical standpoint, both jalapeños and all other chili peppers are classified as a fruit. Fruits are defined commonly as the structures of certain plants which contain seeds and are edible. Since jalapeños meet this criteria, they are classified as a type of fruit.
Nutrition and Culinary Classification
However, while they are technically a type of fruit, jalapeños are eaten primarily as a vegetable. They are often served cooked with other vegetables, and their nutritional values and food categories more closely resemble a vegetable than a fruit. For example, jalapeños are very low in sugar and calories, making them more like a vegetable than a fruit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while they are technically classified as a type of fruit, jalapeños are most commonly thought of and used as a type of vegetable. Some of the major factors driving this perception are their:
- Botanical classification
- Nutrition characteristics
- Uses in the culinary world
For these reasons and more, jalapeños can be thought of as a type of vegetable.
