Croatian Roasted Red Peppers Recipes

ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Place the whole peppers on a sheet pan and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the skins are completely wrinkled and the peppers are charred, turning them twice during roasting. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Set aside for 30 minutes, or until the peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Remove the stem from each pepper and cut them in quarters. Remove the peels and seeds and place the peppers in a bowl along with any juices that have collected. Discard the stems, peels, and seeds. Pour the oil over the peppers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT (FUNGHETTO)

Steps:

• For the peppers: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Spray a small baking dish or baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Arrange the peppers, cut side-up, on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape, about 20 minutes.
• For the eggplant: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add the eggplant in batches and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• For the filling: Combine the cooked eggplant, tomato-basil sauce, olives, capers, salt and pepper in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Spoon the filling into the bell peppers and sprinkle the topping over the filling. Drizzle with the olive oil and broil until a golden crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes.

CROATIAN ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Wash and dry peppers. Placed on a tray about 2 inches below preheated broiler. Broil, turning, until well blistered and charred on all sides. As each pepper is finished, place in a kettle and cover tightly. Let peppers rest until cool enough to handle. The peppers seem easier to peel if you let them cool and steam for an hour or more until nearly room temperature. Gently peel with fingertips; try not to tear flesh. Place whole peppers in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt, garlic, oil, and vinegar; turn peppers to season and coat on all sides. Let stand for at least 30 minutes; or cover and chill for a day or more. Serve the peppers with all juices on a few leaves of soft butter lettuce. Makes 2 servings.
• Suggested Accompaniments: French style bread and dry white wine.
• Home Cooking Around The World-- Woman's Day.

CROATIAN STUFFED GREEN PEPPERS ("PUNJENA PAPRIKA")

Steps:

• Wash green peppers and cut the stem part to open a hole and to remove seeds part.
• Sauté finely minced onion on lard. When transparent remove from heat and add grounded beef and pork.
• Cook rice until half done and add into meat. Also add 1 whole egg, salt and pepper. Mix well into a compact stuffing.
• Stuff each green pepper with stuffing until full (Surplus of stuffing use as meat balls to cook with peppers).
• In a pot melt lard and sauté flour until brownish. Add tomato strained juice, salt and sugar. Add water if needed.
• Roast each green pepper in a frying pan on some oil making sure they don't over burn. Put each peppers into a sauce and cook 60 minutes. At the end you can add sour cream.

CROATIAN STUFFED PEPPERS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix ground beef, egg, rice, bread crumbs, and onion powder together in a large bowl.
• Pack the ground beef mixture into the green bell peppers, eliminating all air pockets. Form the remaining beef mixture into large balls.
• Combine water, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Carefully lower peppers and meatballs into the sauce with a slotted spoon. Bring back to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until beef is cooked through and rice is tender, about 1 hour.
• Mix sour cream and flour together in a small bowl. Slowly stir in some of the sauce. Pour into the Dutch oven and mix well. Simmer until flavors combine, 3 to 4 minutes more.