Grill-Roasted Red Peppers in 5 Easy Steps

Roasted red peppers are a delicious way to add flavor and complexity to a variety of dishes. They are particularly excellent added to salads, sandwiches, and pasta. You can buy jars of roasted red peppers in almost any grocery store. But did you know they're also incredibly simple to make? Even if you're not much of a cook, you can make roasted red peppers in 5 easy steps. While you can also roast them on the stove or under the broiler, I find that the grill imparts the best flavor.

Step 1:

First of all, heat your grill to medium heat.

Step 2:

In the meantime, get your ingredients together. That should be easy because you'll only need one: red bell peppers. That's it! Make sure to choose firm peppers that are free of wrinkles and blemishes. Simply rinse them under cool running water and dry them off with a paper towel.

Step 3:

Place your peppers on the heated grill and close the lid. Let the peppers roast for about 15-20 minutes, or until their skin is blackened all over. Keep an eye on them and turn them occasionally with tongs to ensure uniform cooking.

Step 4:

When done, take the peppers off the grill and place them in a bowl or other container. Cover with plastic wrap and let the peppers steam for approximately 10 minutes.

Step 5:

Take the peppers out of the bowl and let them cool. When cool enough to handle, the blackened skin should peel off easily. Take out the core and seeds and cut the peppers into strips.

It's that easy!

Quick Tips:

Add roasted red peppers to your hummus before blending for a delicious smoky flavor.

Add roasted red peppers, diced jalapenos, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese to your favorite cornbread recipe for a Southwestern flavor.

Add pureed roasted red peppers to jazz up your regular tomato sauce.

Make a roasted red pepper puree by blending the peppers with a little bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic (and any other seasonings you might want to add). Use the puree to add to soups or as a topping for meat, seafood, or vegetables.

Did You Know?

As an added bonus, bell peppers are good for you! They're chock-full of vitamin C (even more than oranges), beta carotene, and carotenoids (antioxidants that protect against cancer, heart disease, and sun damage). They also contain B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. So indulge!