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    Rustic Roasted Red Pepper and Caramelized Onion Salad with Cumin-Garlic Dressing

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    Pixicook editorial team

    A delightful dish that captures the essence of La Mancha, featuring roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and a cumin-garlic dressing.

    Ingredients for Rustic Roasted Red Pepper and Caramelized Onion Salad with Cumin-Garlic Dressing

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    serves
    6 peoplechevron
    serves
    6 peoplechevron

    Large Red Bell Peppers

    each

    Substitute chevron-down

    Head Of Garlic

    each

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    Small To Medium White Or Red Onions, unpeeled

    0 lb

    Substitute chevron-down

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil

    tablespoons

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    Lemon Juice

    tablespoons

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    Salt

    to taste

    Substitute chevron-down

    Cumin

    teaspoons

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    Black Olives

    handful

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    How to Make Rustic Roasted Red Pepper and Caramelized Onion Salad with Cumin-Garlic Dressing

    1. Preparation

    Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with foil. Arrange the bell peppers and garlic on one sheet and the onions on the other.

    2. Roasting Peppers and Garlic

    Place the baking sheet with the peppers and garlic on the top shelf of your oven. Roast the garlic for about 20 minutes, or until it is soft. Let the peppers roast for 40 to 45 minutes, turning them once during roasting. The skins should blister and blacken, which will make peeling easier later on.

    3. Roasting Onions

    Simultaneously, place the baking sheet with the onions on the shelf below the peppers. Allow the onions to roast for about 1 hour, or until they are soft.

    4. Steaming Peppers

    Once the peppers are roasted, carefully place them in plastic bags and twist the bags shut. Let them steam for 10 to 15 minutes. This step will make peeling the skins much easier.

    5. Peeling and Cutting Peppers

    After steaming, peel the skins off the peppers. Remove the stems and seeds, and cut the peppers into ½-inch strips.

    6. Peeling and Cutting Onions

    Allow the onions to cool slightly, then peel them. Cut each onion in half and then into thick slices. Arrange the pepper strips and onion slices on a platter or in a shallow bowl.

    7. Making the Dressing

    Separate and peel the garlic cloves. Using a food processor, blend the garlic with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and cumin until smooth. This dressing will bring a harmonious balance of flavors to your salad.

    8. Combining the Salad

    Pour the cumin-garlic dressing over the roasted peppers and onions. Add a handful of black olives, and mix everything well to ensure the dressing coats the vegetables evenly. Let the salad sit for a bit to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully.

    Pitfalls and tips

    Roasting Red Peppers

    Achieve a deep, smoky flavor by charring the red peppers over an open flame if you have a gas stove, or alternatively, use a broiler. Once blackened, enclose the peppers in a bowl covered with plastic wrap to steam, which will make the skins easier to remove. Peeling the peppers while they are still warm can make the process easier. Ensuring all the skin is removed will prevent any unwanted bitter flavors in your salad.

    Caramelizing Onions

    Patience is key when caramelizing onions. Use a heavy-bottomed pan to ensure even heat distribution and cook the onions slowly over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. The natural sugars in the onions will caramelize, giving them a rich, sweet flavor. This can take upwards of 30 minutes, so don't rush the process by turning up the heat, as this may lead to burning.

    Tasting and Adjusting

    Lastly, always taste your salad before serving. Adjust the seasoning, acid, and herbs as needed. Personal taste can vary, and this is where your palate guides you to the perfect balance for your version of the recipe.

    Quality Ingredients

    Use the best quality olive oil you can find for the dressing, as its flavor will be prominent. Similarly, select ripe, firm red peppers and fresh, pungent garlic.

    Cumin-Garlic Dressing

    Toasting the cumin seeds before grinding them can intensify their nutty flavor. Use a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder to freshly grind the seeds. Fresh garlic will provide a sharp, pungent taste that contrasts well with the sweetness of the onions and peppers. Use a microplane or garlic press to achieve a fine paste that will disperse evenly throughout the dressing.


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