Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers
Equipment
- Bowl, metal, small
- Bowl, small
- plastic wrap
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large red capsicums tops and bottoms removed, cut along the ribs and seeded
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes.
- Toss the red capsicum sections with the olive oil in a small bowl.
- Arrange the capsicum sections in the ungreased air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 12 minutes.
- Turn the capsicum sections and cook for another 12 minutes, until tender and roasted.
- Transfer the roasted capsicums to a small metal bowl.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and leave to steam for 15 minutes.
- Remove the capsicums from the bowl and peel away and discard the skins.
- Serve immediately or cool for use in other recipes.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Use these roasted red peppers as a simple Side Dish or add them to salads, pizzas, sandwiches, devilled eggs and frittatas. They can also be chopped and used as a colourful topping for an Appetizer or incorporated into sauces and dips.Recipe Notes
Do not skip the steaming stage after roasting. Covering the hot peppers for 15 minutes traps steam around the skins and makes them considerably easier to peel. A little blackening on the skins from the Airfryer is perfectly fine because the skins are removed before serving.Different Capsicum Colours
The same Basic recipe can be used with green, yellow, orange, white or purple capsicums. Different colours vary in sweetness and flavour, and combining several colours creates an attractive mixture of roasted Vegetables.Storage Advice
Allow the peeled roasted peppers to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Refrigerate and use within 3 to 4 days. Keep them chilled until needed and use clean utensils when removing portions from the container.Wine Advice
A fresh Sauvignon Blanc works well when the roasted peppers are served in a salad or alongside fresh vegetables. A Pinot Grigio is another suitable choice, particularly when the peppers are served as part of a light Mediterranean-style dish.Nutrition values
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About Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers
Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers are a simple way to prepare sweet, tender peppers without buying jars of pre-roasted vegetables. Fresh red capsicums need only olive oil before being cooked in the Airfryer. After roasting, a short steaming period loosens the skins so they can be peeled away easily, leaving soft and flavourful roasted peppers.
Why Roast Red Capsicums?
Roasting changes both the flavour and texture of fresh capsicums. The flesh becomes softer and sweeter, while lightly charred areas add a deeper roasted flavour. This makes roasted peppers useful in dishes where raw capsicum would be too crisp or assertive.
Because the recipe contains only capsicums and olive oil, it is also a versatile Basic recipe that can be prepared before deciding exactly how the finished peppers will be used.
Preparing the Peppers
Remove the tops and bottoms of the capsicums, then cut along the natural rib sections. Remove the seeds and inner membranes so the pieces are relatively flat and can cook evenly.
Tossing the pieces with olive oil gives them a light coating that encourages roasting without making them greasy. No additional seasoning is necessary at this stage because the finished peppers can later be seasoned according to the dish in which they are used.
Roasting in the Air Fryer
Arrange the capsicum sections in the basket so hot air can circulate around them. They are cooked for 12 minutes before being turned and cooked for another 12 minutes.
The skins may become dark or blistered during cooking. This is desirable because the outer skins will later be removed, while the flesh underneath becomes tender and develops its characteristic roasted flavour.
Why Steam the Peppers?
Immediately after roasting, transfer the hot peppers to a metal bowl and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. The heat trapped inside creates steam, which loosens the skins from the flesh.
After approximately 15 minutes, the skins should peel away much more easily. Discard the skins and retain the soft roasted flesh for serving or adding to another recipe.
Using Different Colours
Red is only one option. Green, yellow, orange, white and purple capsicums can also be roasted using the same technique. Each colour offers slightly different flavour characteristics, so using a mixture can make a dish more interesting.
A colourful selection also works particularly well when the roasted peppers are served as Vegetables on a platter or incorporated into a fresh salad.
Ways to Use Roasted Peppers
Once prepared, roasted peppers can be used in numerous recipes. Slice them for a Salad, place them on pizza, chop them into egg dishes or add them to sandwiches and wraps.
They can also be blended into sauces and dips or served simply with herbs and seasoning as a Side Dish. Their soft texture makes them particularly useful when a recipe needs pepper flavour without the crunch of raw capsicum.
A Versatile Vegetable Recipe
With only two ingredients, the finished peppers naturally fit a wide range of dietary requirements. They contain no dairy products, eggs, wheat or animal ingredients and can therefore be useful when preparing food for guests with different preferences.
The recipe is also suitable for the Low Carb category and can be incorporated into many vegetarian or vegan meals.
Preparing Ahead
Roasted peppers are particularly convenient to prepare ahead because they can be chilled after peeling. Once completely cool, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate until needed.
This makes it easy to prepare a batch for use across several meals. Add them to salads cold, allow them to come closer to room temperature for an appetizer platter or incorporate them into cooked dishes.
Food Safety
Cool the roasted peppers promptly after peeling if they are not being served immediately. Store them covered in the refrigerator and use clean utensils when handling them. For current information about preparing and storing fresh produce safely, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration food-safety information.
Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers are an economical and flexible alternative to store-bought roasted capsicums. Once you have prepared a batch, they can bring colour, sweetness and roasted flavour to everything from Pizza and salads to appetizers, egg dishes and vegetable sides.
