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Piperade
Basque Country's slow-cooked peppers and tomatoes with Espelette pepper (piperade)
Red, white and green, the colours of the Basque flag, sit in one pan in piperade, the summer dish of Bayonne, Espelette and the villages of the French Basque Country. Green peppers, onions and ripe tomatoes are stewed in olive oil until soft and sweet, then warmed with the region's mild, fruity Espelette pepper. Basque families eat it at lunch with crusty bread, spooned beside rice, or with eggs softly scrambled into it; restaurants often add a slice of Bayonne ham, which this version leaves out. Chef's tip: cook it slowly and let the liquid reduce; a good piperade is jammy, not watery.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
To serve (optional)
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Fresh ingredients (4)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 4 tbsp olive oil in a wide heavy pan over a medium-low heat. Add 2 onions and cook for 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and translucent but not browned.
10 minStep 2: Add 3 green peppers, 1 red pepper and 3 clove garlic and cook for 10 minutes more, until the peppers are soft and floppy.
10 minStep 3: Add 1 ¾ lb ripe tomatoes, 1 tsp Espelette pepper, 2 sprig fresh thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 pinch caster sugar and 1 tsp salt. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the juices have reduced and the mixture is thick and glossy. Common mistake: covering the pan, which traps the water and leaves a thin, soupy stew.
20 minStep 4: Fish out the thyme sprigs and bay leaf and taste for salt and pepper heat.
Step 5: For the egg version, turn the heat to low, pour 4 eggs over the piperade and stir gently for 2–3 minutes, until just set in soft, creamy curds. Serve warm with crusty bread or rice.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does piperade take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of red pepper?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
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