Making roasted peppers at home is quite a simple task. We will show you how to use several varieties of peppers that work great for many dishes!
What exactly is a roasted pepper?
Roasted peppers come in a variety of forms but basically it is a member of the capsicum family of chiles that has had the skin burned and removed. The skin of many peppers does not digest well so they are often more palatable when removed. However the main reason for burning and removing the skin is for flavor. Humans have to have been perfecting this technique for hundreds of years, probably over charcoal or fires. Chiles contain oils that vastly change in flavor when roasted. In spanish it is often referred to as Torreado, as though it has been made in the form of a bull. No wonder they have such a strong reputation!
What kind of peppers does this work with?
There are many types of peppers that can be roasted at home. You can of course also find them in cans or jars in the store. While there is nothing wrong with these, of course having them freshly made does not compare. The canned varieties often take on a subtle “tin” like flavor profile so we would recommend jarred if going that route. Also they are frequently red or yellow, but we are here to tell you many other types of chiles can be made into roasted peppers at home. Some thin-walled varities don’t tend to work as well as they burn through the skin before peeling away. However these all make great choices:
- Poblano
- Baby bell pepper
- Jalapeno
- Red Fresno
- Shishito
- Serrano
- Habanero and ghost chile
What are some good uses for roasted peppers?
Roasted peppers have many uses and can be enjoyed hot or cold. They can be eaten whole, or stuffed with cheeses and meats, or roasted vegetables. There are several dishes in Latin America that feature roasted peppers that have been stuffed with cheese or meats such as Chiles Rellenos, or Chiles en Nogada, both of which are quite famous. They can also be pureed into salsas or made into sauces. We tend to like them simply chopped and thrown into salads and pastas. As you can see there are limitless uses for roasted peppers, no wonder why we shouldn’t make them at home!
How to Make Roasted Peppers at Home
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 each red pepper
Instructions
- Carefully roast the pepper over open flame. This also works very well on a hot grill, or with a toaster with very high broiler setting.
- Carefully turn the pepper slowly as it burns with tongs. The skin does not have to be 100 percent burned. Make sure not to burn into the interior flesh. You are looking to get about 60-75 percent even coverage.
- When the pepper is mostly roasted, place in a bowl while still very hot, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to steam and soften the remaining skin for about 15 minutes.
- An easy way to remove the skin when soft is to run under water, however we tend to think it makes it softer and loses some flavor. Place the pepper on a cutting board or towel and scrape gently with a knife or scraping object. You can also use a paper towel. The pepper should still have some rigidness to the body and not become soft.
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