Roasted bell peppers: the best way to enjoy peppers in summer (and all-year-round)!

When bell peppers are in season there’s nothing better than a sweet tender roasted bell pepper, a quick fix for a summer dinner or an “aperitivo”. These peppers are amazingly good, and very healthy. This recipe is really versatile and it’s perfect if you are one of those who like to plan ahead. Once you’ve got this done and ready in the fridge, you can whip up a dinner in no time!

If you have ever been to Sicily or in other southern regions in Italy during the summer, you have certainly experienced walking along the street and being wrapped up by the smell of roasted bell peppers. Mainly grown in the south, bell peppers are a staple for the mediterranean summer pretty much across all countries in southern Europe, be it Greece, Turkey, Italy or Spain.

How to use Italian roasted bell pepppers

While bell peppers can obviously be enjoyed in a lot of ways, this is a no brainer if you want to have something ready in the fridge that you can use to prepare a variety of dishes.

Try my suggestions:

• Eat this plain with sourdough bread and some cheese as an appetizer
• Whizz it in a blender and make a sauce for pasta or risotto or to spread on bread.
• Use it as side dish for meat and fish
• Add it to salads
• Perfect on a cous cous with other vegetables and chickpeas
• Roasted peppers are great on a pasta salad with marinated eggplant
• Enjoy with some hummus and feta or labneh for a middle-eastern touch

Health note

Bell peppers are a perfect addition to our diet, they are good for our brain health and prevent aging. Check the multiple benefits of eating bell peppers:

• Vitamins: Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and other vitamins that resist the heat like Vitamin K. Bell peppers are also rich in Vitamin A, essential for bone, teeth and eye health.
• Antioxidants:  bell peppers are rich in powerful antioxidants like quercitin, capsanthin, lycopene, they also contain a substance called beta-cryptoxanthin, that in our body is turned into Vitamin A that helps also our bones.
• Folic acid: an essential nutrient for our body, much needed during pregnancy for the correct development of the baby. It’s also important at any age for the correct functioning of the cells of our body. An important nutrient for the formation of RNA and DNA.
• Luthein and Zeaxanthin: antioxidant important for our eye health.
• Minerals: last but not least, roasted  bell peppers contain magnesium, phosphorous and potassium.

How to prepare Italian roasted bell peppers

This is quick and very very easy! no need to measure or to use special tools, you will only need a grill or a barbecue.

Ingredients

• bell peppers
• extra virgin olive oil
• garlic
• salt

Method

Step 1
Turn on the grill in the oven.

Step 2
Wash the bell peppers thoroughly and put them into a tray lined up with parchment paper or aluminum foil, put the tray into the upper rack of the oven near the grill. Cut any piece of paper that goes to high on the sides, it could catch fire near the grill. If you are using a non stick tray or a glass one you can skip the parchment paper.

Step 3
Grill each side of the peppers until they become charred, it should take around 40min depending on the oven

Step 4
To easily remove the skin you can put the peppers into a paper bag and leave them to rest for 10 minutes. Otherwise let them rest in the tray with the oven closed or with a lid on.

Step 5
Once they’re slightly cooled down and you can handle them, remove the stems, skin and seeds

Step 6
Tear the flesh in to strips and put them into a jar or a glass container, season with a pinch of salt, extra virgin olive oil and a few slices of garlic. They keep in the fridge for several days, from time to time stir them to mix the oil and seasoning.

Variations

You can add basil, oregano, rosemary, chili peppers or whatever you like with the flavor.