Chili-Roasted Potatoes, Bell Peppers & Sweet Onions
These easy roasted veggies are a great brunch side dish. (Or, try topping a hearty serving with a poached egg for a satisfying entrée.)
Ingredients:
2 pounds baby red potatoes, washed and sliced into halves (if smaller) or quarters (if large)
2 Bell peppers, seeded and cut into large chunks
1 sweet onion, peeled and sliced into large chunks
2 tablespoons olive or grapeseed oil
½ teaspoon chili powder (which you can make from this week’s chili peppers!)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Freshly-chopped parsley
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 425°. Place potatoes, peppers and onions in a baking dish large enough for vegetables to spread out into a single layer. (Don’t crowd, or the vegetables won’t have a chance to crisp and brown. If necessary, divide the vegetables onto two baking sheets.) Add oil and chili powder and season generously with salt and pepper, toss all evenly to coat.
2. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or two during roasting, until potatoes are pierced easily with a fork. Remove from the oven, drizzle with about a teaspoon of olive oil and garnish with the fresh parsley.
How-To: Dry Chili Peppers
Two simple ways to preserve these spicy peppers to use in recipes all winter long!
Ingredients:
Basque or any other thin-skinned chili peppers
Method:
Air-dry method: Wash your chili peppers thoroughly after picking to remove any dirt, then dry. Place on a plate or a wire rack in a dry, well ventilated room. You can also string the chilies up on string or thread and hang to dry. Within several weeks, you will have dried chili peppers and you can grind them up or use them as ornaments as desired.
Oven-dry method: Wash your chili peppers thoroughly after picking to remove any dirt. Cut them in half, lengthwise to expose the pepper innards. Arrange the chili peppers over a baking sheet. Bake at low heat, about 100°-135°. There is no set time to bake the chili peppers for drying. Keep an eye on them, turning every few minutes or so. You can leave the oven door cracked for some air flow. It will take several hours with this method. Keep in the oven until the moisture has been baked out of them. Use as desired!
Roasted Red Peppers, Potatoes & Onions with Rosemary
This easy roasted side dish is fragrant with fresh rosemary.
Ingredients:
1-1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and sliced into halves (if smaller) or quarters (if large)
2-3 Bullhorn peppers, seeded and cut into large chunks
½ red onion, sliced into rounds
1 sprig rosemary, leaves removed and finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons olive or grapeseed oil
½ teaspoon sweet paprika (optional)
Freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Using a large bowl, toss vegetables in oil and spices to coat evenly. Place potatoes, peppers, onion, and rosemary in a baking dish large enough for vegetables to spread out into a single layer. (Don’t crowd, or the vegetables won’t have a chance to crisp and brown. If necessary, divide the vegetables onto two baking sheets.)
2. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or two during roasting, until potatoes are pierced easily with a fork. Remove from the oven, drizzle with about a teaspoon of olive oil and garnish with the fresh parsley.
Chili-Lime Sweet Corn Salad
Crunchy, spicy, tangy and sweet, this salad is bursting with flavor.
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn, shucked
1 red Bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno or Anaheim pepper, seeded and diced
½ Walla Walla sweet onion, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
2 limes
1 teaspoon chili powder
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat grill to medium-high and grill corn, rotating every few minutes, until entire husk is slightly charred. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, set each piece of corn stem end down and using a sharp knife, cut kernels from the cob. Add chopped peppers, onions and cilantro or parsley to bowl.
3. In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by zesting the limes into a bowl, then juicing. (You’ll need about ¼ cup lime juice for reference.) Whisk in chili powder and salt and pepper to taste. Toss dressing into corn salad to coat and check for seasoning again before serving.
Sweet Corn & Roasted Potato Salad with Fresh Basil
This room temperature salad will be a hit at your next barbecue. (Plus, it’s a snap to prep ahead!)
Ingredients:
3 pounds fingerling potatoes, scrubbed and halved or quartered if large
¼ cup minced parsley
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups sweet corn kernels, cut from the cob
½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 bunch fresh basil leaves, chopped
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
For dressing:
½ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Place the potatoes in a heavy roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil, stir to coat. Salt and pepper generously and add chopped parsley. Roast the potatoes until tender and starting to brown, turning once or twice, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
2. When potatoes have cooled, combine together with the corn kernels and sun-dried tomatoes.
3. For the dressing, combine the ½ cup of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Toss the potato mixture enough dressing to coat lightly. Stir in the basil and feta cheese gently, season with salt and pepper and garnish with toasted pine nuts. Serve at room temperature.
Roasted Potatoes with Sweet Onions
This flavorful side from California’s Chez Panisse is sure to become a staple in your home.
Ingredients:
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, chopped
12-16 fingerling potatoes, washed and scrubbed
3-6 garlic cloves, peeled
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 bay leaves
Sprigs of thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 325°. In a mixing bowl toss the potatoes, garlic and onions with the softened butter making sure to give them all a good coating. Season them with salt and pepper.
2. Place them into an ovenproof gratin dish and top them with the thyme and bay leaves. Add the balsamic and cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake the potatoes for 2 hours. Every thirty minutes remove the foil, stir to coat, then put the foil back on and continue to bake until caramelized from the balsamic glaze. Serve.
Grilled Corn Salad with Sweet Peppers
This warm salad is crisp and crunchy, boasting a wonderful smoky flavor from the perfectly-charred corn and peppers.
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn, shucked
2 sweet peppers, halved and seeded
2 ½-inch-thick onion slices
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon chopped oregano
1 tablespoon finely-chopped chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place corn on the grill rack; grill 20 minutes or until charred here-and-there, turning occasionally. Place in a large bowl; cover with foil. Leave in a warm location 10 minutes, then cut corn kernels off cobs, encouraging clusters to stay intact, if possible.
2. Meanwhile, place the peppers and onions on grill rack, and grill 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop both the peppers and onions.
3. Combine the chives, cream, oregano, vinegar and garlic with a healthy pinch each of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add peppers, onions and corn; toss gently to coat. Serve warm.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Roasted Sweet Onions
Roasted sweet onion adds a wonderful depth of flavor to this refreshing salad.
Ingredients:
2 sweet onions, peeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick rings
2 heirloom or other summer tomatoes, chopped
2 small ears of corn, shucked, blanched and kernels removed
1 scallion, diced
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
10 basil leaves, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange the sliced onion rings on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle generously with sea salt, tossing to coat onions on both sides. Roast for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through until onions are brown and soft. Remove from onion, allow to cool, then roughly chop.
2. In a large bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, corn kernels and scallion. Add roasted onions and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together honey with sherry vinegar, then add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper then whisk well to combine. Drizzle dressing over the salad to taste and top with basil.