Red chili pepper has 40 kcal per 100 g. Contains capsaicin — a meta-analysis of 13 RCTs (Irandoost et al., Phytother Res 2021) found capsaicinoids raise resting metabolism by 34 kcal/day.
How should I track Chili Pepper, red?
For consistent tracking of Chili Pepper, red, weigh it raw. Cooking method changes both weight and calorie density — steaming barely changes anything, but roasting with oil or frying can double the calories. A systematic review (Whitton et al., Adv Nutr 2022) found vegetables are omitted from food logs 2–85% of the time, often because people assume they are "free" calorically. While most vegetables are indeed low-calorie, the fats added during cooking are not. Log the oil, butter, or dressing separately to keep your tracking accurate.