ONIONS/PEPPERS - HATE THEM! WHAT TO DO?

SgtCyd
SgtCyd Posts: 25
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I am a complete weirdo, I can't stand to eat peppers or onions! But, it seems every recipe in the world uses one or the other or both for flavour! Any suggestions for substitutions?

Replies

  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    Poor thing :(
  • Cut them in huge chunks. Then don't eat them once the food is cooked.
  • harebearva
    harebearva Posts: 216 Member
    If your problem is the flavor, then leave them out. They really have no benefit other than flavor in my opinion. If it's a texture thing, then either mince them or use powdered spice versions. Hope this helps
  • Hernandeak11
    Hernandeak11 Posts: 351 Member
    Ahh, are you my boyfriend? lol

    I have the same problem with celery..I HATE IT!
    So i usually substitute onions in that case, because i actually like them

    Remember, you're the one cooking these things..either leave them out entirely, or substitute with a veggie you like.
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    I am a complete weirdo, I can't stand to eat peppers or onions! But, it seems every recipe in the world uses one or the other or both for flavour! Any suggestions for substitutions?

    Don't eat them, don't buy them, don't cook with them. Simple!
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
    Cut them in huge chunks. Then don't eat them once the food is cooked.

    Whenever I cook things that call for bell peppers, I have to do this for my wife. She hates physically eating them but apparently doesn't mind the flavors (she's weird). Those nights there's always a little pile of bell pepper pieces on her plate when she's done.
  • If you don't like them don't eat them! LOL! I used to hate onions too. I just left them out of the receipe when I cooked it :)
  • PoeRaven
    PoeRaven Posts: 433 Member
    I hate peppers...love onions.
    Substitute...Substitute...substitute!

    Carrots, celery, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc...Add spices for added flavor!
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    I can't use green peppers in anything so always substitute red or yellow, totally different taste. Don't like yellow or red or purple onions I only use sweet onions. Might be an option.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Try Red Peppers they are sweeter then Green peppers. For onions try Scallions, Shallots or Leeks.
  • Gemnildy
    Gemnildy Posts: 124 Member
    Many of these recipes are using them for color as well, I usually substitute tomatoes for something red (Grape tomatoes whole or sliced or quartered Romas work great for most dishes) For something green, try fresh green beans. I love sweet onions so they aren't usually a problem, but if I need something milder or for color I might also use green onions chopped. Another good item to add for flavor is garlic... I LOVE garlic..lol :flowerforyou:
  • Weezieishness
    Weezieishness Posts: 61 Member
    I'm exactly the same. Onions and peppers are the only two vegetables I really don't like. Personally I just leave them out of recipes or add something else. You could buy a jar of like powdered onion stuff to use for flavouring, it gives food flavour but doesn't really taste like actual onion.

    When I go out places it's harder, food will often have a lot of onion in it and it's hard to pick it all out. Peppers are easier to just pick out and leave on the side of the plate.
  • cheeksv
    cheeksv Posts: 521 Member
    ....don't use them? If it is a texture thing use onion powder. There are a ton of other veggies out there you can try for flavor. Fennel, carrots, zuchini, mushrooms, celery any root veggie is good for flavor.
  • NewTeena
    NewTeena Posts: 154 Member
    I'm not a big onion fan myself, but I don't mind them if they're cut small enough, most of the time I don't even know they're there. As someone else mentioned you could also cut them up in large pieces and pick them out later. I tried cooking without onions but food just did not taste the same.

    Peppers, I find I like them better if they have a bit of crunch to them, try adding them last. I don't find food tastes different if I leave it out.
  • reddi2roll
    reddi2roll Posts: 356 Member
    I leave them out of any recipe that calls for them and I never have a problem with taste etc. If there are green peppers around I can even smell them..yuk. I suppose if I pureed them so I could not see them and mixed them up with other items I could include them but that is just too much trouble.
  • SgtCyd
    SgtCyd Posts: 25
    Lots of great ideas here! Thanks everyone! There are some veggies you've mentioned that I've never tried before so, I'll give it a shot. I just hate the idea of ruining a meal and wasting food if I can't eat it. But, if you never try, you never know!

    Thanks again!
  • lewandt
    lewandt Posts: 566 Member
    I have never cooked with either. I hated both of them growing up and never needed them as i got older. I simply left them out if a recipe called for it.

    Now though, i seem to crave flavor. My taste buds seem to be changing. I still don't like to hit an onion or pepper but like the flavor so sometimes i keep them large like someone else said and get the flavor that way or blend them after sauteing them (i like that one better) and add to my recipe.

    Lately i am craving hot and spicy too......never liked that one either growing up
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    I am of no help here. Onions and Peppers along with green beans are the only veggies Ilike.

    My bride makes peas and macaroni all the time. I DESPISE peas but love the flavor. I just pick them out and push the pile onto her dish.
  • Is it a texture thing or do you think it's just a taste thing? How have you tried eating them? A former friend of ours swore he hated peppers and onions too, but yet I could mince them up fine and add them to spaghetti sauce, salsa, meatloaf, etc and he'd eat it. But he'd never put a raw onion slice on a burger or eat raw peppers off a veggie tray.
  • JGT2004
    JGT2004 Posts: 231 Member
    I'm weird. I don't mind the tastes but hate the textures of celery, tomatoes, onions. But tonight I made a soup using all of them and mushrooms which I hate. I just puréed it all and it tastes pretty decent. I also usually replace onions with onion powder for most recipes since its a common ingredient.
  • mom2mozart
    mom2mozart Posts: 307 Member
    I have hated onions for years. I find them to be offensive smelling, they burn my tongue and overpower flavors of many foods... Especially when they are raw. Red onions are by far the worst. If you cook them down they become much milder. I like a faint flavor of onion, and therefore have substituted onion powder in many recipes. I also love garlic - and use it in most dishes... I use what I like. Remember, you are the master of your meals. Put what you like in your recipes. It is an art... Enjoy!!!

    Don Pablo's used to have low carb fajitas that were sauteed with asparagus, zuchini, yellow squash, and I believe mushrooms. I loved getting them. They were served with lettuce wraps instead of flour tortillas. It was a nice change from the normal onion and pepper fajitas. I ate them often.

    Hope this helps.
  • KJLIII
    KJLIII Posts: 225 Member
    You're not weird - some people just have a problem with them ! ! I have a physical problem with both - if I eat them, I will belch them for hours and hours and HOURS ! ! It is truly horrible ! ! I usually avoid them at all costs ! ! :sick:

    So I do a combination of things - I pick them out of food that's pre-made, or ask for them to be left out (if possible, when eating out). Sometimes you just HAVE to have the onion flavor - esp. in Mexican dishes - and I will chop them in BIG chunks (so I can pick them out) or else use onion powder.

    I think these things have already been posted, but I just wanted you to know you're not alone in that ! ! :flowerforyou:
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
    I am a complete weirdo, I can't stand to eat peppers or onions! But, it seems every recipe in the world uses one or the other or both for flavour! Any suggestions for substitutions?

    Onions if chopped small enough are not noticeable in any meal IMO. As for peppers, not sure that there are so many recipes that use peppers that you couldnt' simply not eat them.
  • I'm so with you! I hate a lot of veggies- very picky eater!! But I disagree with the one comment that onions and peppers are unimportant. Onions can help prevent scurvy and hot peppers have been known to help fight or prevent colon cancer, stomach cancer and even breast cancer! I have to purée both and put in speghetti sauce or chili! You could even pep up your meatloaf. What's a few minutes extra if it helps prevent cancer! Start with just a little in your sauce and gradually add a little more each time. Taste buds will adapt! I know! Good luck!!
  • endoftheside
    endoftheside Posts: 568 Member
    I feel your pain...it is almost impossible to find packaged meals that do not contain peppers or onions. I have to knock out all nightshades not just peppers (e.g. tomatoes also), which eliminates another big chunk of easy meals. I become ill if peppers have been in contact with my food, so I can't just pick them out.

    You've gotten several good comments about how to handle it if it is a texture issue, and if you have tried it 15 times and still don't like the taste you might never like it. I don't think it's SO important that you need to eat it if you don't like it, just eat something else.

    Batch cooking to make your own onion and pepper free freezer meals is one option for easy meals, or sometimes you can find prepared meats that you can just throw your own preferred veggies in.

    I occasionally have made a separate batch of peppers for the pepper eaters in my house, but the last time I did my throat was closing up a bit so I think that is not a good idea anymore, for me.
  • sailawaykate
    sailawaykate Posts: 126
    Don't eat them?

    Onions are cheap and abundant, thus their use in lots of food. Peppers pack a flavorful punch, and are also fairly easy to access for many areas of the world.

    If it's the flavor, can't help ya. No subs there. Try experimenting with other herbs and spices! Because cooking is just science for hungry people.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Oh I dont know...dont eat them?
  • tehboxingkitteh
    tehboxingkitteh Posts: 1,574 Member
    I don't mind the onion flavor, I just can't eat them. I use onion powder instead.

    I also don't like green or red peppers, but I like banana and jalapeño peppers, so I substitute.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I would say, if you don't like them, don't eat them. You can learn to like new things though. I hated bell peppers until a couple of months ago, when I decided to learn to like them. I just started eating them regularly. Started with red ones, roasted. The first couple of times it wasn't that pleasant, but after that, it was ok. Now, I actually like them, even raw. I was surprised at how quickly my taste changed.

    Celery's another one for me that I've always hated. One night recently I was having a drink at a friend's house and joked about needing to get over the celery thing. Under the influence of alcohol, I munched through a couple of sticks with no problem. Now, well I still don't like it, but I can tolerate it better. It still tastes a bit bitter to me, but I got over my psychological aversion to its texture.

    There's not reason to eat foods you don't like, but if you are prepared to tolerate things for a while until they no longer taste unpleasant - it can really open you up to new culinary experiences. I used to be the pickiest eater ever, and it's great to have a wider range of things I can eat and enjoy.
  • rabblerabble
    rabblerabble Posts: 471 Member
    I'm quite fond of onions and peppers because of the flavor they add (and for so few calories). But my wife's tummy doesn't do well with peppers, so I'm forced to omit them when I do the cooking for the family.
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