There’s nothing quite like the piquillo pepper. They’re sweet, fruity, slightly smoky, and just bitter enough. For me, they’re the San Marzano tomatoes of peppers. And while I enjoy them in literally anything, these delicate, triangular beauties are just made for stuffing.
I don’t think I’ve ever filled them the same way twice, and while this most recent exploration was quite amazing, who knows what the future will bring. Having said that, this one may be worth repeating. I loved this Spanish-inspired combination of flavors.
The thing to keep in mind is that since you’re only cooking these for about 20 minutes, you’ll want to stay away from things that take longer than that. Things like raw rice, or larger chunks of vegetables just won’t work well here. Thankfully that leaves like a thousand other possible ingredients, so you have that going for you.
These are surprisingly easy to find, and any high-end grocery store should stock them. Gourmet cheese shops almost always have them, and you can find them all over the Internet. If all else fails, ask any Spanish person living near you, and they will know. I hope you give these beautiful peppers a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 12 Stuffed Piquillo Peppers:
12 Piquillo Peppers
olive oil, as needed
4 oz chorizo, Merguez sausage, or any spicy sausage meat
1/2 cup diced green onions
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup cooked white long grain rice
2 oz goat cheese
2 cloves crushed garlic
2 tbsp parsley, plus more to garnish
cayenne to taste
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp sliced or chopped almonds
1 tsp blood orange zest
1 tbsp blood orange juice
400 F. for 15-20 minutes
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