Skip to main content

Roasted Bell Peppers

I love roasting bell peppers in the summertime, because the markets are filled to the brim with them.  A lot of people simply char their peppers over an open flame and then remove the peels.  This is perfectly fine if all you need is one or two peppers, but have you ever tried roasting several of them in the oven?  I find it so much easier to make big trays of these capsicums, because I don't have to fuss & watch over them.  My oven does all the work while I do something else; this is especially helpful if you have an electric range vs. a gas range.  At our house we enjoy eating red bell peppers because they are the sweetest & most delectable, but you can just as well use orange, yellow or even the spicier poblano peppers.  These vegetables are a good source of folate, dietary fiber, Vitamins A, C, B6 & magnesium.  Roasted bell peppers are not only good for you, they're also quite delicious on so many things like pastas and toppings for crostini.  I even like pureeing them into plain hummus for some added zip.  Run out to your local market & buy several bell peppers, because now that summer is here and these vegetables are inexpensive, you're going to want to roast some at home.



Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Simply halve & seed your bell peppers. Place them cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment or a silpat.  Bake for 30 minutes, rotating your sheets halfway through.  You want the skins to blister.

The roasted peppers.  Carefully transfer them, while still piping hot, into a heatproof bowl.

Cover your bowl with a piece of plastic wrap & let the peppers sit for 15 minutes.  This glass tempered bowl is part of my Mise en Place.

See them sweating?  After 15 minutes, remove the plastic wrap & begin peeling them.  The skins should easily come off.  Don't rinse them under water because you end up losing so much of the flavor. 

Note: The peppers may still be quite warm.

Transfer your strips & pieces of bell peppers into a glass refrigerator dish with a lid.  These will keep for about a week or so.  Delicious!




How easy was that?  I know you're all thinking that jarred bell peppers are more convenient & readily available at the local supermarket (admittedly, I keep a jar of these in my pantry at all times), but you really need to give these a try.  Don't be surprised if you get hooked on them.  I've been known to use them in rice pilafs, sandwiches and as burger toppers, but perhaps my favorite way to eat them is in pastas.  I saute some garlic in the best extra virgin olive oil until tender, add some strips of roasted bell peppers until just heated through, and toss this with just-cooked al dente linguine.  Sprinkle this dish with some minced parsley and pass the freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (my preference).  Utterly delicious.  Enjoy!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Antique Salt Cellars

There was a time when salt cellars played an important role on the dining table for the host or hostess.  As a result of it being such an expensive commodity several hundred years ago, salt was seen as a luxury and it was the well to do that made salt cellars quite fashionable & a status symbol for the home.  A single salt cellar usually sat at the head of the table and was passed around throughout the meal.  The closer one sat to the salt cellar, the more important one was deemed by the head of the household.  Smaller cellars that were more accessible and with an open top became a part of Victorian table settings.  Fast forward to the 20th century when salt was no longer a luxury and when anti caking agents were added to make salt free-flowing, and one begins to see salt cellars fall out of fashion.  Luckily for the collector and for those of us who like to set a table with Good Things , this can prove to be a boon. Salt cellars for the table come in silver, porcelain, cut glass

Collecting Jadeite

With its origins dating back to the 1930s, jadeite glassware began its mass production through the McKee Glass Co. in Pennsylvania. Their introduction of the Skokie green & Jade kitchenware lines ushered in our fascination with this jade color.  Glassmakers catered jadeite to the American public as an inexpensive alternative to earthenware soon after the Depression, both for the home and for its use in restaurants.  The Jeanette Glass Company and Anchor Hocking introduced their own patterns and styles, which for many collectors, produced some of the most sought after pieces.  Companies marketed this beautiful glass under the monikers of jadite , jadeite , jade glass , jad-ite , jade-ite , so however you want to spell it, let it draw you in for a closer look.  If you want a thorough history of the origins of jadeite, collectors’ pricing, patterns & shapes (don’t forget the reproductions in 2000), I highly suggest picking up the book by Joe Keller & David Ross called, Jadei

How to Paint a Chair

If you have ever felt the need to spruce up a set of chairs or give them a new look, why not try a little bit of paint?  Our tastes in decor and color will probably alter throughout our lives, and at some point, we may find ourselves wanting to change the look of our furniture without having to spend a lot of money.  That's where a few handy tips, some tools from the hardware store, and good-quality paint come in handy.   I know I'm not alone in paying visits to local antique shops, antique fairs and flea markets, and falling in love with pieces of furniture that would be perfect if they were just a different color.  You don't have to walk away from a good purchase simply because it's the wrong color.   My dear friend, Jeffrey, is forever enhancing his home with collectibles from flea markets and tag sales.  However, certain items aren't always up to Jeffrey's tastes when he brings them home.  He is the type of person who won't hesitate to chang