Ingredients

• 2 x Medium Red Peppers

• 1 x Medium Green Peppers

• 1 x Large Red Spanish Onion - cut into half moons

• 1/2 x Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 4 x Medium Tomatoes, peeled or 1 x Tin Italian diced Tomatoes - salt free

• 4 x Large Garlic Cloves, minced

• 3 x Medium courgetts - 2-3cm sliced

• 1 x Teaspoon Mediterranean oregano

• 1 x Teaspoon dried thyme

• 2 x Teaspoons smoky paprika

• 1/2 x Teaspoon Allepo chili powder

• Salt to your diet and taste

• The traditional Piperade recipe calls for piment d’Espelette chilli, however, due to difficulty in obtaining these French chilis, we have added the Allepo chili powder

Preparation

Heat the oven to 180c then roast both the Peppers until the skin starts to crinkle and becomes a little black in parts. Then remove from the oven, saving the juice and without burning your fingers, remove the top and seeds and cut into approx 4-5cm strips and set aside. You will now have an amazing smoky flavour from the peppers ready for the dish.

Next add olive oil to a medium hot heavy based pan and add the onions and garlic and cook to caramelise. Now add the freshly ground black pepper, dried thyme, oregano, paprika, chilli, tomatoes and the roasted red and green pepper strips, sliced eggplant and courgettes including the roasting juice.

Gently stir then cook for 30 minutes to reduce until you reach your desired consistancy. The longer you cook allows the ingredients to lose their chunkyness with more intense flavour.

Important to taste as you go and if the ingredients are a little to sharp, add 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar

As noted below this recipe may be prepared and refrigerated several days in advance. The perfect bonus.

Important: For maximum black pepper flavour, in a hot dry pan gently toast the peppercorns until you get a wonderful aroma in your kitchen - about one minute. Allow to cool then grind. You will now have turbo charged ground black pepper flavour for the dish. Wonderful. Note: Always use the very best quality peppercorns. Many peppercorns available are sadly with flat flavour.

Comments: This recipe may be prepared and refrigerated several days in advance, allowing you to concentrate on the main dish. The medium chilli powder and the spices are available from our Spice Shop go to SPICES