Seven Pepper Sauce Recipes

SEVEN PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• I really like Classical music while I make this dish. Don't know why, but it just seems to fit. My favorite is Tchaikovsky: Suite No.2 Capriccio Italienne, Op.45. And a cold Coors!
• Combine the onions, bell peppers (I use a mix of red, yellow, and green), and celery in a small bowl and set aside while you start the roux.
• To make the roux, in a heavy 2-quart sauce pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat to about 250 degrees. With a metal whisk, whisk in the flour a little at a time until smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the roux is light brown - about 2 - 3 minutes. Be careful not to let the roux scorch or splash on your skin.
• Remove from the heat, and immediately stir in the red, white, and black pepper. Return to high heat and cook about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the bay leaves, fresh peppers and garlic, stirring well.
• Continue cooking about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. (Since we're cooking the seasoning and vegetables into the roux, the mixture should be quite pasty.) Remove from heat.
• In a separate 2-quart sauce pan, bring the stock to a boil. (1 bullion cube to 1 cup water works OK). Add the roux mixture by spoonfuls to the boiling stock, stirring until dissolved between each addition. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce reduces to 3 ½ cups, about 15 minutes. Skim any oil from the top, and serve immediately.

LEBANESE SEVEN SPICES

Steps:

• Stir the black pepper, cumin, paprika, coriander, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom together until evenly blended. Store the spice mix in an airtight container.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Place the peppers on a baking tray and roast in the oven for about 45 mins until the skins are blackened. Remove from the oven and put into a plastic bag - this makes them sweat and the skins slip off more easily. When cool enough to handle, peel off the skins with your fingers. Slice the peppers open, pick out and discard all the seeds and membrane, then roughly chop the red flesh.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. When hot, fry the garlic and shallot for a few mins. Add the chopped peppers and continue to fry for a few mins, stirring to combine everything. Add the vegetable stock, bring to the boil, then allow it to reduce a little.
• Pour the contents of the pan into a blender and whizz until smooth. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Depending on the ripeness of the peppers, you shouldn't need any sugar - but if they retain a slightly bitter flavour, return the sauce to the pan, add sugar to taste and let it dissolve over the heat. Serve hot or at room temperature.