Red Pepper Appetizer

Roasting Peppers (for a red pepper appetizer) and/or Eggplant (for Baba Ganoush)...........


Vegetables that have been roasted or grilled on a charcoal grill, have a unique flavor.
You can choose to roast over the gas stove, grill or oven.

Gas Stove
For the gas stove, turn the flame to high and hold the eggplant or pepper with stem still on, over the flame turning each one with tongs until all sides are charred and the eggplants or peppers are soft. This takes about 5 minutes a side.

Barbeque Grill
Wait until the charcoals are burning white, or turn on gas barbeque. Poke holes in the eggplants a few times or they will explode. Cook until all sides are charred and the flesh is soft.

Oven
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Poke holes in the eggplants to prevent them from bursting. Line a shallow baking dish with silver foil. Bake until all sides are charred and flesh is soft. You can also grill in the oven 3 inches below broiler, but keep turning the eggplants.

Remove from heat, put the peppers or eggplant in a large plastic bag, and the plastic bag in a brown paper bag. Place in a large pot and cover with a lid. Leave in pot for one hour. This makes it easier to peel the eggplant or peppers.

Use the bag to hold the stem of the eggplant or pepper, peel off the skin and any charred edges. Wash your hands but not the vegetable, water makes it lose its flavor.

Roasted Red Pepper Appetizer

Ingredients

8 red peppers
4 cloves garlic
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Basil

Directions
See Roasting Peppers and/or Eggplant

Using one of the roasting methods above, place the peppers in a large plastic bag, then a brown paper bag and leave for one hour in a covered pot. This softens the skins and makes it very easy to peel. Do not wash the peppers, water makes them lose their flavor.
Peel the peppers, slice off the stem. Slice the peppers lengthwise into 1 inch strips, add extra virgin olive oil, chopped garlic cloves, black pepper, salt and chopped basil. Serve as an appetizer at room temperature.