Baked Bell Pepper Rolls

Baked bell pepper rolls are a colorful and tasty dish that can be served as an appetizer or a side dish. Here is the recipe to prepare delicious Italian-style bell pepper rolls.

Ingredients

• 4 large bell peppers, of different colors for a more cheerful dish
• 200 g of ricotta
• 50 g of grated Parmesan
• A bunch of fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons of salted capers (rinsed and chopped)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. Wash the peppers, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds and white membranes. Then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook in a preheated oven at 180 °C (356 °F) for about 20-25 minutes or until they are soft.
2. In the meantime, prepare the filling. In a bowl, mix the ricotta with the grated Parmesan, add the chopped capers, a few hand-torn basil leaves, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Combine all the ingredients until you have a homogeneous mixture.
3. Once the peppers are lukewarm, stuff them with the prepared ricotta mixture, rolling them up to form the rolls.
4. Arrange them back in the baking dish, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and bake again for 10-15 minutes at 180 °C (356 °F), until the surface is golden and crispy.
5. Serve them hot or at room temperature, garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Curiosity

Bell peppers are very versatile vegetables in the kitchen and are used in many Italian recipes, such as peperonata or caponata di peperoni. When baked in the oven, their skin becomes red and develops a slightly crispy and very tasty crust, which contrasts with their soft flesh.

If you want an extra touch of flavor, you can add chopped anchovies in oil to the filling or replace the ricotta with goat cheese for a more distinctive taste.