And Shirley Yarbrough reminded me this week of two simple ways to preserve the peppers in your box. There’s nothing easier. These ideas work for the banana peppers and jalapenos. Not for the bell peppers.
PIckled Peppers
peppers
Peppered Tuna with Crowder Peas
As pretty as those lady peas are earlier in the year, it’s crowder peas that really make me happy. Try this adaption of a recipe from ages ago in Southern Living. I think they served it on salad greens and topped it with bernaise sauce. You could serve do the same but instead of bernaise sauce, just whip up a little vinaigrette.
Ratatouille
This is James Beard’s recipe, adapted from his book, “Beard on Food.” You know – the James Beard of the James Beard Awards that our chefs are all so anxious to win every year?
This is a classic Provencal dish, perfect with grilled meat or fish or as a filling for an omelet or as dinner all by itself. The Beard folks note that in France it’s often presented as an appetizer with a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar and a sprinkling of chopped parsley. Toss in one of those jalapenos if you like.
Sausage and Peppers
This idea from Seth Freedman of Forage & Flame, market chef for the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, is so simple it almost doesn’t need a recipe. But it’s a nice reminder of a classic combination.
Fried Okra with Spicy Red Pepper Sauce
Does everyone know how to roast peppers? A quick way for just a few peppers is to do them right on the burners of your stove (if your stove is gas, of course). Just crank up the burner and put the peppers right on the grate. Turn them (with tongs!) as they char and blister. When most of the pepper has blackened, drop it into a paper bag and close the top. The peppers will steam and when they’re cool enough to handle, you can easily remove the skins. And the bonus is that your house smells like roasting peppers – yum.
Don’t have any smoked paprika in the pantry? Well, get some. It’s an amazing seasoning. In the meantime, regular paprika will do, or just skip it for today. You can find it at most grocery stores.
Pelau-Stuffed Peppers
This idea for stuffing peppers would work well with delicata squash, larger eggplants or even your acorn squash. The filling incorporates a lot of ingredients from current boxes and past. Substitute with what you have on hand. And the filling also makes a tasty side dish all by itself. The recipe suggests cooking this on the grill but you can bake it in a 350 degree oven just as well.
Peppers Stuffed with Cheddar and Chicken
This recipe is adapted from one I found in Fine Cooking magazine. The original called for poblano peppers, but it works just as well with our beautiful bell peppers.
How to Roast Peppers
Herbed Spaghetti Squash with Red Peppers and Walnuts
Pickled Peppers and Okra
It seems that many people in the Riverview CSA are into canning and pickling. I found this recipe idea from the Food Network’s “Big Daddy’s House” an intriguing way to use jalapenos and okra in one fell swoop. The original directions were a little confusing, so I’ve modified them here. The idea seemed worth sharing, especially if you’re a household that uses pickled jalapenos.The quantities of jalapenos and okra called for here may not match what you got in your box, but I think you could add in some of the green peppers as well to make a total of 1 1/2 pounds of vegetables (in addition to the carrots and onion).