Bell Pepper Purée Recipes

RED PEPPER PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Line a roasting pan with enough aluminum foil to fold over the top later. Put the bell peppers in the pan and the pan in the oven. Roast, turning the peppers about every 10 minutes, until they collapse, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven; fold the foil over the peppers and allow them to cool.
• Working over a bowl, remove the core, skin and seeds from each of the peppers, reserving some of the liquid.
• Put the pepper pulp in a food processor with about two tablespoons of the reserved liquid. Add a large pinch of salt and turn on the machine; drizzle the oil in through the feed tube. Stop the machine, then taste and add more salt and/or olive oil if necessary. Store, well-covered, in the refrigerator (for several days) or the freezer (up to a month).

RED PEPPER PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500°F. Line a roasting pan with enough aluminum foil to fold over the top later. Put the bell peppers in the pan and the pan in the oven. Roast, turning the peppers about every 10 minutes, until they collapse, about 40 minutes.
• Fold the foil over the peppers and allow them to cool. Working over a bowl, remove the core, skin, and seeds from each of the peppers, reserving some of the liquid.
• Put the pepper pulp in a food processor with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid. Add a large pinch of salt and turn on the machine; drizzle the oil in through the feed tube. Stop the machine, then taste and add more salt and/or olive oil if necessary. Store, well covered, in the refrigerator (for several days) or the freezer (up to a month).
• Add a couple tablespoons of puree to the cooking liquid of any simmering grain-rice, couscous, or quinoa, for example.
• Use in place of or with tomatoes in pasta sauce. For example, sauté several vegetables and bind them with the puree during the last minute of cooking.
• Fold into omelets or scrambled eggs, with or without cooked vegetables.
• Combine with chopped fresh basil, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and minced garlic for a pestolike pasta sauce.
• Emulsify with fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make a beautiful salad dressing.
• Spread on crostini or pizza before baking.
• Use as a finishing sauce for roasted eggplant, zucchini, or other vegetables.
• Serve as a condiment with grilled or roasted fish, meat, or chicken.
• Stir into soups or stews just before serving.
• Mash a couple tablespoons of puree, with a little olive oil, minced garlic, and cracked black pepper, into fresh, salty cheese-like feta or goat-to make a dip for bread or vegetables.

BELL PEPPER PURéE

Steps:

• Place the peppers on a sheet of foil on an oven tray under a preheated broiler, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches from the broiler. Turn them until their skins are black and blistered all over. Alternatively-and more easily-roast them in the hottest oven for about 30 minutes, or until they are soft and their skins blistered and blackened, turning them once after 15 minutes.
• To loosen the skins further, put them in a strong plastic bag, twist it shut, and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. Another old way that has the same effect is to put them in a pan with a tight-fitting lid for the same length of time. When the peppers are cool enough to handle, peel them, and remove and discard the stems and seeds.
• Blend the peppers to a purée in the food processor with the garlic, vinegar or lemon juice, chili, cumin, olive oil, and a little salt to taste.
• Put the purée into a serving bowl and mix in the chopped parsley, cilantro, and preserved lemon peel.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS WITH YELLOW PEPPER PUREE

Steps:

• Keep the peppers whole and roast over an open flame or under a broiler; steam inside a paper bag and peel; see any of the roasted red bell pepper recipes posted on this site for more detailed instructions if needed.
• Core all the peppers, but keep the red ones whole, removing the seeds from the center; set aside.
• Roughly chop the yellow peppers after removing the seeds; puree in a blender with the oil until smooth and emulsified; season with kosher salt and pepper.
• The peppers and puree can be chilled at least 24 hours or serve immediately; spoon the puree onto a serving plate and place a red pepper in the center; sprinkle with sea salt.

ROASTED RED PEPPER PURéE

Steps:

• Puree all ingredients in processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)

RED PEPPER PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Line a roasting pan with enough foil to fold over the top later. Place the peppers in the pan, and roast, turning the peppers about every 10 minutes. Roast until the peppers collapse, about 40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, fold the foil over the peppers and allow them to cool.
• Working over a bowl to catch the peppers' liquid, remove and discard the core, skin and seeds.
• Place the pepper pulp in a food processor with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, and turn on the machine; drizzle the oil in through the feed tube. Stop the machine, taste and add additional salt or olive oil, if necessary. Store, well covered, in the refrigerator for several days, or in the freezer for up to a month.

PURéED TOMATO AND RED PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Roast the peppers as directed, allow to cool in a covered bowl, then peel, seed and dice. Set aside.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes, and add the carrot and celery and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, about 5 more minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the tomatoes with their liquid, the tomato paste, basil sprigs, cinnamon, sugar if using, and salt to taste. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Add the diced roasted peppers, the stock or water, rice, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring from time to time. Season with freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Remove the basil sprigs.
• Using a hand blender, purée the soup, or use a blender and purée in batches, being careful to pull a dish towel down over the top and not to cover tightly with the blender lid, then return to the pot and heat through. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve topped with croutons, Parmesan cheese, and/or slivered basil.

RED PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Place the red bell pepper, onion and garlic in the saucepan and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender.
• Pour in the chicken broth, stirring well, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth.
• Run the soup through a strainer and return the liquid to the saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the ground black pepper and allow to heat through, about 5 to 10 minutes.