Roasted Goat Cheese Peppers (Print Version)
Creamy goat cheese stuffed into sweet mini peppers and roasted to golden, savory perfection.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 16 mini sweet peppers
→ Cheese Filling
02 - 5 oz fresh goat cheese (chèvre)
03 - 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened
04 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
05 - 2 tbsp fresh herbs, chopped (parsley, chives, or basil)
06 - 1 tsp lemon zest
07 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
08 - Pinch of salt
→ Topping & Finishing
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)
11 - Fresh parsley or basil, to garnish
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Rinse mini peppers, slice each one in half lengthwise, and carefully remove seeds and membranes.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic, chopped herbs, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt. Mix until smooth and creamy.
04 - Fill each pepper half with the cheese mixture using a spoon or piping bag.
05 - Arrange stuffed peppers on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
06 - Roast in the oven for 18–20 minutes, or until peppers are tender and cheese begins to turn golden.
07 - Remove from oven. Top with toasted pine nuts (if using) and fresh herbs. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between the sweet roasted pepper and the tangy, herb flecked goat cheese filling is the kind of flavor pairing that makes people close their eyes when they eat.
- These come together with almost zero effort and look like something you would order at a restaurant for fourteen dollars.
02 -
- Do not overfill the peppers because the cheese expands slightly as it heats and will spill over the sides if you pile it too high.
- Toasting pine nuts in a dry pan takes about two minutes and burns in about three, so stay right there and shake the pan constantly.
03 -
- A piping bag or even a zip top bag with the corner snipped off fills the peppers much faster and neater than a spoon ever will.
- Rotate the baking sheet halfway through roasting so every pepper cooks evenly instead of just the ones in the center.