How To Roast Capsicum

Roasted capsicum (bell pepper) is a fantastic side dish on its own. The roasting process brings out the intense flavours of this juicy and crunchy vegetable. There are many roasted capsicum recipes, like this chicken schnitzel & roast capsicum veggie toss recipe. Cooking red, yellow, and green capsicum in the oven just might be your new dinner party trick.

How to roast capsicum in the oven

Roasting capsicum couldn’t be simpler. For equipment, your oven will do the job, whether it’s traditional, fan or gas. Remember to oil your baking sheet or cover it with foil to save yourself on washing up.

How to make roasted capsicum

1. Preparing capsicum: Drizzle whole capsicums with oil and season with salt and pepper. Add a sprinkle of your favourite dried herb for extra flavour. Thyme is popular, but try experimenting with marjoram, rosemary and sage for a variety of combinations. 
2. Space capsicums on the sheet and place them into a preheated oven of 200ºC.
3. Set a timer for 20 minutes and check the capsicums after it rings. Roast the capsicums until you see them soften and darken. Once they start sizzling with a roasted colour, remove them from the oven. 
4. Check that your capsicums are cooked through, and serve warm. If you’re planning to use them later, put them aside and cool them to enjoy as antipasti.

How long should you roast capsicum for?

Roasting time depends on the type of oven you’re using and the type of capsicum you have. Capsicums usually requires 20 minutes to soften and slightly darken. If you have a fan oven, don’t go over 200ºC, while with a traditional oven, you could try up to 220ºC. With a gas oven, try gas mark 7, and turn it down to 5 if you see your capsicum darken in 20 minutes. 

It’s always better to start with a lower temperature and then turn it up, as you don’t want the capsicums to burn. Look out for when they’re sizzling and starts to caramelise.

How to chargrill capsicum

If you prefer a more authentic taste of the Mediterranean, try chargrilled capsicums. For this, you either need a barbeque or a grilling pan on your stove. Alternatively, you can also use the grill function in your oven, but a barbeque or a pan gives you more control over the process. 

1. Slice the capsicums in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Put them in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper to taste. 
2. Once the grilling pan is hot or the barbeque grill is ready, spread the capsicums evenly across the surface and watch the peppers carefully as they blacken and caramelise. It could take as little as 5 minutes, so keep a close eye to prevent burning.
3. Turn the capsicums over. As soon as the other side is done, transfer them to a plate and enjoy them warm or keep them for later.

How to make roasted capsicum soup

For a basic roasted pepper soup, you only need a few ingredients. Raid your vegetable basket and see what you can come up with. One capsicum (any variety will do), one potato (sweet will work well, but any potato will do), and an onion. Adding a few garlic cloves will enhance the flavour even more. 

1. Throw everything onto a tray, drizzle with oil and season with your favourite herbs. 
2. Roast in a preheated oven at 190ºC/170ºC fan/gas mark 5 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. 
3. Once roasted, let the veg cool for a few minutes and transfer into a pot. Cover with boiling stock and blend with a blender. If you like your soup textured rather than smooth, blend only a little. 
4. Add salt and smoked paprika according to your preference. For an extra kick, you can add some chilli or ginger and a dollop of cream, thick yoghurt, or a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds on top.

How to make roasted capsicum pasta

Capsicum is great for transforming a basic tomato pasta sauce into a gourmet meal. 

1. Simply roast three capsicums and two onions sprinkled with dried thyme for 30 minutes in a 220ºC/fan 200ºC/gas mark 7 preheated oven, and watch them soften and lightly darken. 
2. Cool, blend and mix with 500g of passata for a quick gourmet sauce. 
3. Pour the sauce over your favourite pasta and sprinkle generously with parmesan.

Roasted capsicum recipes

Roasted capsicums are remarkably versatile, pairing beautifully with many dishes. Here are a few ideas on how to use them as accompaniments: 

• Spread roasted capsicums on top of steamed greens for an extra splash of colour and flavour.
• Elevate your bread to another level with a roasted pepper topping, like this garlic bread recipe. 
• Serve them with Mexican food, such as this pork tostadas recipe.
• For a twist on traditional stuffed capsicum, try this cheesy Middle-Eastern stuffed capsicum recipe.

Take a look at some HelloFresh bell pepper recipes and use those tasty roasted capsicums for your next lunch or supper:

• Double American Beef & Capsicum Loaded Wedges 
• Indian Chickpea & Capsicum Curry
• Parmesan Crumbed Chicken Strips & Garlic Veggies  
• Char Siu Beef Noodle Stir-Fry

Making quick and tasty dishes has never been easier. Whether you’re looking to spend less time cooking or just want to try something new, HelloFresh has a wide selection of capsicum recipes, including this Sicilian-style salmon & Panzanella salad recipe with chargrilled capsicum relish.