Video:Roast a Red Pepper

Transcript:Roast a Red Pepper

Hi, I'm Rachel Edelman, for About.com Food. Today I'm going to talk about roasting red peppers.

Red peppers are great because they taste different when raw and when they're cooked. Roasting a red pepper brings out its sweet side and it is easy to do at home.

Gather Materials to Roast the Pepper

First you'll need a knife and a brown paper bag or aluminum foil. Choose a red pepper that looks firm and crisp with a glossy skin.

Broil and Rotate the Red Pepper

Turn on your broiler to get it warmed up. Rinse the pepper and place it directly on the oven rack right underneath the flame. This is what broiling is. The flame will cause the pepper to bubble and turn black. We want this to happen. Once the top side of the pepper turns black, rotate it. Repeat this process until the whole pepper has been roasted.

Cook the Pepper in a Container

Now, take out the pepper and place it into a paper bag, or wrap it in aluminum foil. Make sure it is tight. The pepper will continue to cook in its container. This also loosens the skin. After about 10 to 15 minutes, remove it from the bag and let it cool down a little bit.

Prepare the Roasted Red Pepper

To cut your pepper, insert the knife on top and cut around the stem. Slice it in half, and remove the seeds. With a knife, gently scrape off the skin. You can slice the pepper into strips as thick as you want them.

Roasted red peppers can be used in a variety of dishes from pizza to salads. You can even puree it and put it in your pasta sauce.

Thanks for watching, to learn more visit us on the Web at food.about.com.