Peppers can be used to make memorable, invigorating appetizers such as bruschetta, pizza poppers, and stuffed peppers.
You can use mini peppers for stuffing peppers so it will be a smaller portion, the perfect size for an appetizer.
Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta
Roasted red pepper bruschetta is a chilled pepper bruschetta with freshly made crostini’s.
Red peppers are sliced in half, and their insides along with the seeds are removed. Red peppers are roasted in the oven on both sides until they begin to slightly char.
To steam the peppers, place them in a paper bag until they are cooled. This allows the skins to be easily peeled away.
Roasted red peppers are sliced and placed in a bowl.
Drizzle olive oil over the peppers, and add minced garlic, fresh basil leaves, oregano, and balsamic vinegar to the bowl. Mix together and let marinate in the fridge for 3 hours.
Make your own crostini’s by brushing slices of baguette with olive oil and toasting them in the oven for a couple of minutes.
Place a spoonful of red peppers on the freshly made crostini and enjoy!
Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Crostini
Roasted red pepper and goat cheese crostini are made by roasting red peppers in the oven with a bit of olive oil and Italian seasoning.
Once the red peppers have charred, you can remove them from the oven and slice them up.
Prepare the crostini’s by placing slices of baguette on a baking sheet, and brushing them with olive oil. Toast them in the oven for a couple of minutes.
Top the freshly made crostini’s with a goat cheese and roasted red peppers.
Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.
Pepper Pizza Poppers
Pepper pizza poppers are a cheesy and warm pepper appetizer with a hint of spicy pepperoni.
Mini peppers are sliced in half, and their insides along with the seeds are removed.
Place the mini peppers with the cut side up on a baking sheet.
Place a spoonful of pizza sauce inside the peppers, and top with grated mozzarella cheese.
Add slices of pepperoni and bake in the oven until the cheese begins to melt.
As soon as the peppers come out of the oven, top them with strips of fresh basil leaves or parsley, and enjoy!
Jalapeno and Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers
Jalapeno and goat cheese stuffed peppers are a creamy and spicy pepper appetizer.
Mini bell peppers are sliced in half, and then deseeded. Mini peppers are grilled on the BBQ until they’ve charred up and softened.
Jalapeno pepper is diced and the seeds are removed so it’s not too spicy in the appetizer.
Goat cheese is mixed together with diced jalapeno, and then mini peppers are stuffed with the spicy goat cheese for a pepper appetizer with a bit of a bite!
Grilled Peppers with Burrata
Grilled peppers with burrata is a creamy and tart pepper appetizer.
Peppers are sliced and seeds are removed. Peppers are placed on the grill until they have charred and softened up.
Vinaigrette is prepared by mixing together red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt and pepper, pepper flakes and olive oil.
Pour vinaigrette over the peppers and let it for a couple of minutes.
Place pieces of burrata inside the peppers, and then drizzle vinaigrette over the burrata.
Top with a few toasted sourdough bread crumbs, and fresh thyme, basil leaves, and rosemary sprigs.
Roasted Garlic Hummus
Roasted garlic hummus is a homemade chickpea appetizer with hints of garlic, and spicy flavors.
Roasted garlic hummus is made by roasting garlic in the oven.
You can make the roasted garlic by cutting off the top part of garlic to expose the cloves, and then drizzle olive oil on the cloves. Cover the garlic with tin foil, and place in a heat proof dish. This way, the oil drippings will end up in the dish, instead of in your oven.
When the roasted garlic is finished cooking, and has cooled down, squish out the roasted garlic cloves.
To make the roasted garlic hummus, chickpeas, tahini, roasted garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil and water are added to a food processor. The mixture is blended until smooth, and then it’s ready to serve.
Serve with peppers for dipping into roasted garlic hummus.
