Roasted Bell Pepper Food

HOW TO ROAST BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• This is my preferred method for roasting peppers, because you can roast several peppers at once. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush a baking sheet lightly with olive oil. Lay peppers on their sides, stems pointing sideways.
• Put baking sheet in oven and allow peppers to roast for 20 minutes.
• Remove baking sheet. Using tongs, give the peppers a half turn, then place back in the oven for another 20 minutes.
• Check to make sure peppers have fully roasted. The skin should be charred and soft, and the peppers should look slightly collapsed. If they don't look ready, let them roast for a few more minutes. When they're done, remove baking sheet from oven.
• You can also use your oven broiler to roast the peppers, which is a faster process that chars them more than regular oven roasting. While it goes faster, you also have to watch it carefully, as the peppers will need frequent turning during the process. If you wish to broil the peppers, I suggest placing the rack in the upper third of the oven so there is 8-9 inches between the broiling element and the peppers. That way, the peppers will be able to soften as they char. When they're too close to the broiler, they will char before they're cooked, which means the flesh won't soften and they'll be harder to peel.
• Preheat broiler to high and place the peppers below the broiler.
• Let them roast for 20-25 minutes, giving a quarter-turn every 5 minutes, until the peppers are charred, soft and collapsing. The broiler will char them quite a bit, the skin will be very black and crispy-- don't worry, you're going to peel it off anyway. Remove from the oven.
• Proceed to instructions for "Steaming Your Peppers."
• I typically use this method when I only have one or two peppers to roast. It's messier than the oven method, but it produces a very smoky rich flavor. There are a couple of ways to roast peppers on the stovetop - on a gas flame, or on a grill pan. If roasting directly on a gas stovetop, you may wish to cover parts of your heating element with foil to protect it from spills.
• Turn your gas stovetop flame to medium. Place pepper on the grate directly over the top of the gas flame. Let it roast for 20-25 minutes. Use a pair of tongs to give the pepper a quarter turn every 4-5 minutes.After 20 minutes, use tongs to gently squeeze the pepper. If the pepper is soft and easily yields to the tongs, it is ready. If the pepper still feels somewhat firm, let it continue to roast for a few more minutes until it softens.
• Remove pepper from the stovetop. Proceed to instructions for "Steaming your Peppers."Prepare grill pan according to instructions. My pan requires a bit of water to be placed in the circular chamber. Preheat grill pan over medium heat; brush lightly with oil if it is recommended for your pan. Place pepper on the preheated pan.
• Roast the pepper for 20-30 minutes, giving a quarter turn with a pair of tongs every 5 minutes or so, until the pepper is charred and collapsing. Check water level about halfway through cooking if your grill pan requires it. Skip to instructions for "Steaming Your Peppers."
• I tend to use this method during the summer when we're using our gas grill a lot. Roasting over an open flame produces a great smoky flavor. Be sure to wear a protective oven mitt. Place peppers on the open grill over a medium flame. Let them roast for 15-20 minutes, using tongs to give them a quarter turn every few minutes, until the peppers are charred, soft and collapsing.
• You can also use a kitchen/bruleé torch to char your peppers, but it's a slow process. Using a grill or gas flame is more efficient.
• Once you have roasted your peppers, you will need to steam them. This process will help you peel the tough skin from them more easily. There are a few ways to steam the peppers. I like to place the roasted peppers on a flat, smooth surface like a cutting board, then invert a large bowl over the top of them. The bowl traps the steam inside. Steam for 15 minutes.Alternatively, you can place the peppers in a paper bag and seal the top by rolling it closed. I prefer using the bowl method. Whichever method you choose, steam the peppers for about 15 minutes.
• Once you have roasted your peppers, you will need to seed and peel them. This is kind of a messy process, but it's well worth the effort. Note that some people like to seed their peppers before roasting. When I have tried this in the past, the results are never as good as when I keep the whole pepper intact during roasting-- I recommend roasting the peppers whole and seeding after the roast.
• Slice the pepper vertically from top to bottom and lay the pepper open so it becomes one long strip. Pull the stem from the top of the pepper. The stem and a clump of seeds should loosen easily. Use a towel or paper towel to wipe off any loose seeds that remain inside the pepper.
• Flip the pepper over to reveal the skin side. Strip off the charred skin. If you want a more charred flavor, you can leave a few small blackened bits on the skin.
• Alternatively, you can seed and skin the pepper under running water, which will make it easier to get the pepper flesh clean. I prefer not to do this, because I feel the pepper loses some flavor in the process-- but if you're in a hurry and don't want to mess up your hands too much, it will speed things up.Once you've peeled and seeded your peppers, you'll end up with soft, sweet, tasty pepper flesh.
• Roasted peppers can be used in a variety of recipes, or snacked on as-is dressed with salt and pepper. They can be added to stews and pasta sauces or chopped into salsa. They can even be mixed with fresh basil and olive oil to create a peppery bruschetta. I have many recipe ideas on my website, just search Roasted Bell Peppers for ideas. Enjoy!

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450F degrees.
• Wash peppers and cut in half.
• Remove seeds and stems.
• Place upside down (skin side up) on a cookie sheet coated with olive oil spray.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or so, until skin of pepper is seriously black.
• Make sure there are no sparks or actively burning ashes on the peppers and place peppers in a brown bag for about 10-15 minutes. This steams the peppers so the skins easily peel off. Rinsing peppers takes away all the roasted flavor, so don't let me catch you doing that.
• Let cool so you can touch them.
• Skin will peel off easily.
• Cut halves into strips, or however you need them to be cut.
• Now you know how to roast a red pepper!
• Good for: Chicken, cheese sauces, tomato sauces, topped on foccacia bread, or a million other things!
• You can also roast a pepper by placing it directly on the burner of a gas stove (NOT ELECTRIC!) turning with tongs every few minutes till skin is black. Continue with paper bag step.

ROASTED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Turn on the broiler in the oven. (For those of you in the UK, set the grill to highest setting) Put one shelf at the lowest level and the other shelf at the highest level.
• Cut off the top of the garlic bulb and discard. Put the bulb in a small ramekin, drizzle the 2 teaspoons olive oil over the top, and cover with foil. Place on the bottom shelf of the oven. Set the timer for 45 minutes.
• In the meantime, slice off the tops of the peppers, slice in half lengthwise and in half, lengthwise again, so that you have four long pieces of pepper. Lay flesh side down on a baking sheet.
• Place under the broiler/grill until the skins have turned bubbly and black, about 20-30 minutes. The blacker the skin is, the easier it will be to peel them.
• Remove the peppers to a brown paper bag(lunchbag type) or to a bowl covered with cling film, to steam for about 10 minutes.
• Check on the garlic. It should be soft enough for you to sqeeze the pulp out. If not, return to oven for another 5-10 minutes. Squeeze the pulp out into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Remove the peppers from the brown bag or bowl to a cutting board. Carefully peel the blackened skin from the peppers and discard.
• Put the peppers, basil, oregano and salt (and pine nuts, if using) into the bowl with the garlic. Using your fingers, gently mix together until well combined, adding more seasonings to suit your taste. Transfer mixture to jar.
• Pour olive oil over peppers until covered. Place lid on jar and leave to sit about 1-2 hours. Stir peppers and store in fridge for up to 3 weeks. If oil solidifies, remove from fridge 30 minutes prior to consuming.
• Enjoy!

ROASTED PEPPERS RECIPE (TWO WAYS!)

Steps:

• Turn your gas burner to medium. Put a bell pepper directly over the flame. Grill, turning around regularly with a pair of tongs, until the pepper is charred and very soft (about 15 minutes or so). You can use more than one gas burner if you like to cook several peppers at once. (Be sure to maintain a safe distance from the heat source).
• Heat the oven on to 450 degrees F. Arrange the peppers in one single layer on the pan. Roast on the center rack of your heated oven for anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes, turning the peppers around occasionally to make sure they soften and char well on all sides. (You can also choose to broil the peppers, but you'll want to watch them carefully as they broil).
• When the peppers are fully roasted, immediately transfer them to a heat-safe bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to trap the steam. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes or so until they are cool enough to handle. This will help you peel them easily.
• When the peppers are cool enough to handle by hand, uncover the bowl. Handling one pepper at a time, hold from the top (by the stem), poke a small hole to release any liquid from within the peppers. Peel and discard the charred skin(this will be a bit messy). Slice the pepper open and scrape the seeds. Discard the seeds.
• As an easy appetizer, arrange the sliced peppers on a platter and add some burrata or mozzarella and seasonings of your choice (I used garlic and crushed red pepper flakes). Add some sliced rustic bread to serve along.
• You can use your roasted peppers immediately. To marinate them for later, slice the roasted and peeled peppers up into strips and put them in a glass jar. Pour some good extra virgin olive oil on top to cover the peppers (I like to add sliced garlic, a pinch of kosher salt, and some crushed pepper flakes for flavor). Seal the jar shut and store in the fridge. They will keep for 1 to 2 weeks.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Place the whole peppers on a sheet pan and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the skins are completely wrinkled and the peppers are charred, turning them twice during roasting. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Set aside for 30 minutes, or until the peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Remove the stem from each pepper and cut them in quarters. Remove the peels and seeds and place the peppers in a bowl along with any juices that have collected. Discard the stems, peels, and seeds. Pour the oil over the peppers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

CREAM OF ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER SOUP WITH ROASTED SWEET CORN AND CILANTRO- LIME SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Slice the peppers in half lengthwise; remove stem, seeds and membrane. Place under the broiler skin side up until the skin turns black and blisters. Remove and immediately place in a small paper bag or plastic container with a tight lid. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes; this will loosen the roasted skin. Remove peppers and rub off the black skin with your fingers. Chop skinned peppers and set aside.
• Saute the butter, onions, and garlic until soft in a heavy bottomed soup pot on medium-low heat. Add the reserved red peppers, tomato paste, and chicken stock. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat, and then simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Stir in the cornstarch mixed with a little cold water to thicken. Simmer 5 minutes. *Let the soup cool slightly, and then blend in batches in a blender, or use an immersion blender to puree. Sprinkle the roasted corn over the soup before serving and top with a dollop of Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients vigorously until light and creamy.

ROASTED SAUSAGE AND BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large frying pan over medium heat, melt butter and olive oil and fry Italian sausage until brown on all sides. Place sausage in a casserole dish and add the onions, bell peppers, potatoes, garlic, wine and salt and pepper, to taste. Bake for 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the tops; set aside. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membrane as you can. Place the peppers cut-side up in a baking dish just large enough to hold them upright.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the lumps, until the meat is cooked through and just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to get rid of the fat.
• Wipe out the skillet and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onions and chopped peppers and cook until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and zucchini and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and a pinch or 2 of red pepper flakes. Cook until everything is heated through, then stir in the beef and rice. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
• Fill the peppers with the rice mixture and top each with a sprinkle of the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the baking dish and drizzle the peppers with a little olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the peppers are soft and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, another 15 to 20 minutes.

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Broil peppers (with oven door partially open) 5 minutes each side or till blistering. Remove from roasting pan, place in dish, cover with clingfilm and leave ten minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter or margarine.
• Add onions and sauté till soft, but not brown.
• Remove skin from peppers, chop coarsely and add to onions. Pour in stock and spices plus a squeeze of lemon.
• Simmer 20-30 minutes uncovered.
• Remove from heat, allow to cool and then process in batches so that the soup is a little chunky but not puréed.
• Before serving, add sour cream or half-and-half and heat through.
• Will keep well in fridge 2-3 days. Can also be frozen.

ROASTED STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• To Roast Peppers:.
• Preheat the broiler. Place the peppers on a baking sheet or in a shallow ovenproof dish and broil until the skins blister and turn brown. Turn the peppers until charred on all sides, about 15 minutes.Transfer the roasted peppers to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to cool.
• When the peppers are cool enough to handle, peel the skins and remove stems and seeds(see below). Use immediately(in recipe) or make extra and drizzle with olive oil and store in the fridge for up to 2 months.
• Heat olive oil in a saute pan until very hot. Add the garlic, onion, and gingerroot and saute until you can smell the aroma. Add rice and mix well. Remove from the heat. Add the mozzarella, cream, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and cool before stuffing the peppers.
• Preheat oven to 375*F. After you have peeled the peppers carefully to keep them whole,cut off the tops and remove seeds. Stuff each of the peppers with about 1/2 cup stuffing. Place on a baking sheet greased with olive oil. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot. Enjoy!

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to broil.
• Place the bell peppers on a baking sheet and broil on the top rack of the oven, using tongs to turn them as each side blackens. Place the blackened peppers in a paper bag, close tightly and allow them to cool for 20 to 30 minutes. Then peel the skin off the peppers and discard the stem and all the seeds. Chop the peppers and set aside.
• In a large pot over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Now add the chopped, roasted red bell peppers and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes.
• Next, add the chicken broth and the beans, stirring well. Using a blender, puree the soup in small batches and return to the pot over low heat for 5 minutes.

EASY ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Cut the peppers into quarters. Remove the seeds and the membranes. Roast the peppers until the skin blisters and turns black. Remove from oven and cover with plastic, or a tea towel, or place in a paper bag until cool. The skins should peel away off of the peppers easily when cooled.

ROASTED BELL PEPPERS GRILLED

Steps:

• Grill peppers over high heat turning as it browns about 20 minutes, or until the skins darken and blister. Remove the peppers from the grill, and place them in a paper bag. Close the bag by folding over twice. Set the peppers aside to cool. The steaming helps to loosen the skin.
• Place the garlic, oil, salt, pepper, rosemary and vinegar in a jar and shake the mixture. Pour into a small bowl.
• Take the peppers from the bag and remove the skins, stems, and seeds. If necessary, rinse the peppers to make peeling easier. Reserve any juice from inside the peppers to mix in the dressing. Toss the peppers into the dressing and serve.