Techniques
Knife Skills
Skill
Beginner
2 min

How to julienne a bell pepper into even matchsticks

Flatten pepper pieces skin-side down and slice into thin 2–3 mm strips to make a clean julienne.

Cut a pepper piece so it sits flat, place it skin-side down for stability, then slice into long, thin strips. Aim for consistent thickness for even cooking and a professional look.

The short version

  • Stabilize the pepper by laying it skin-side down
  • Target 2–3 mm thickness for julienne

What you need

  • chef’s knife

How to do it

  1. 1

    Cut the pepper into a piece that can lie flat.

    Create a stable surface before slicing.

    Watch this step
  2. 2

    Place the pepper skin-side down on the board.

    Skin-side down helps keep it from sliding.

    Watch this step
  3. 3

    Slice into long strips about 2–3 mm thick.

    Keep thickness consistent for a true julienne.

    Watch this step

What goes wrong

Slicing on an unstable curved surface

Trim/flatten the pepper piece so it sits securely before cutting.

Why it works

A stable, flat surface reduces slipping and helps you maintain consistent thickness across strips.

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