Braised Peppers and Onions Recipe (2024)

By J. Kenji López-Alt

Braised Peppers and Onions Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes, plus cooling
Rating
4(332)
Notes
Read community notes

This base of slowly stewed peppers and onions can serve as the foundation for a wide variety of dishes: Add seared flank steak or pork butt, capers, olives, raisins and canned tomatoes, and simmer it into deliciously shreddable Cuban ropa vieja, to enjoy with black beans, rice and braised greens. Slice Italian sausage, sear it along with chicken legs, then add ½ cup each of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar, plus a couple of cups of these peppers and onions, and cook until the sauce reduces to a sweet-tart glaze as the meat slowly braises. (Try that on top of boiled yellow potatoes.) Bloom freshly ground ancho, pasilla or other dried chile in oil, then add this sauté, a few cups of cooked black beans and chickpeas, plenty of Mexican oregano and some canned tomatoes to simmer into a rich vegan chili, garnished with roasted sweet potato. But for the simplest use, just slather these peppers on top of a hot dog in a buttered, toasted bun.

Featured in: How to Build a Better Dinner

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisem*nt

Ingredients

Yield:About 3 cups

  • 2tablespoons grapeseed, vegetable or canola oil
  • 3large bell peppers (a mix of colors), stemmed, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1large yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2garlic cloves, minced
  • 2tablespoons ground cumin
  • 2dried bay leaves
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

131 calories; 8 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 402 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Braised Peppers and Onions Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering. Add peppers, onion, garlic, cumin, bay leaves, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are completely tender and the mixture is not runny or watery, about 30 minutes. Adjust heat as necessary to prevent any browning.

  2. Step

    2

    Allow mixture to cool, then store in sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Ratings

4

out of 5

332

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Martha

I’ve been doing this for years but w/o garlic and cumin. I like garlic fresh and don’t want to set my spice tone. I buy peppers at Costco and after a few days, if I haven’t used them, I braise them, either diced or sliced, with onions and freeze them in ice cubes or in those one cup, four section trays. Once frozen I pop them into a Food Saver bag and they sit in my freezer ready to use. I do many prep item like this. Who said cooking for one has to be basic and boring?

AP-in-DC

Accompanying article says that (freezing) is exactly what they do with it. They then thaw it out and make ropa vieja, baked pasta, etc.

Jay

would this freeze well?

K

The author says that he freezes this in vacuum-sealed bags. I froze it today in 3-oz. cubes that I intend to put into a zip-lock freezer bag.

John Ghertner, MD

The joy of that aroma of peppers cooking. I dry peppers, jalapeños, Thai, Serrano, and ghost out of my garden by the quart with that smell wafting through my house for days. I would never adulterate that ambrosia with something as strong as cumin.

KB

Yes. I've found it helpful to package in ziplock bags in several portions. The bags store flat (space saver) and defrost quickly.

Francine

I make this frequently on a Sunday and use throughout the week. Freeze what I don't use. The only thing I do differently is start with onions and get them to the almost carmelized stage then add the remaining ingredients.

Katherine Gallagher

I’m making a big batch of this now and my kitchen smells amazing! Next time, I might take out a bit before adding the cumin, just to keep future options open.

JC Bishop

In Italy they call it Peperonata , although some of their recipes call for using tomatoes and peroncinos as well, and yes it freezes beautifully.Seeing how they use it though in Cuba and Mexico is just a testament to how wonderful this is as a base for almost anything!!If it's a bit watery after thawing just simmer until it reduces..

Patrick Lyster-Todd

2 tbsp ground cumin is a vast amount for just 3 bell peppers and one onion. I found even one tbsp overwhelmed the sweetness of the peppers and onion.

Michele Fisher

Unless you are making Ropa Viejo or one of the other suggested dishes (minus the hot dog), 2 tbsp of cumin seems excessive. I put in 1 tbsp and the texture was powdery, even after 30 mins of braising. Will make again using this technique but without cumin.

Barbara

The vegetables are full of water. If cooked slowly, you probably won't need additional water. If you do, add only a teaspoon or two at a time.

Dan T

This works well, I do it without the cumin and garlic, so I can control the flavor profile when I use them. Yes, freezing does work very well. I vacuum seal them and use them later as a quick step for recipe's.

Henk

Made this several times but liked it most when I replaced the cumin by dried powdered ginger.

Madeline

Yes. I'm making my second batch now and omitting the cumin. Not because I don't like it, but because it limits the versatility. Perhaps things like cumin or ginger can be added into the mix later, depending on what the next recipe suggests as a complementary flavor?

Sroos

This was better than I expected. I was surprised to leave it cooking without lid for 30 minutes. Need to stir every few minutes to prevent burning on one side.

Reba

Made this last Fall with piles of peppers from the garden. Froze in packets and have been using in bean soups all winter - really elevates the soup! Also used in quesadillas.

jddunning

only use 1 tea of cumin so you can use this with lots of other things

Nina

Yes, cumin doesn't go well with every cuisine, you can always add it later.

Craig Avery

I would probably use olive oil, and maybe a bit more than 3 tb, and I would braise for longer, so the effect is a kind of slurpy unctuousness rather than tenderness. And for me no cumin, as the pepper/onion/garlic/olive oil sweetness predominates.

Elizabeth

Making this now. In order to remove all the moisture, I have been cooking for longer than 30 minutes-it is already one hour. I suspect it is essential to remove the excess moisture for best results? Smells delicious. Will make Ropa Viejo once the peppers and onions are done.

Jerry

Add tomatoes and you have the base for shakshuka.

Krooks

2 tbsp ground cumin is a vast amount for just 3 bell peppers and one onion, even one tbsp overwhelmed the sweetness of the peppers and onion. Skip it or try much less.

MJ

Whoops, Always Too Little! Cumin that is. Garlic and cumin married in peppers and onions. Life can be good.

MJ

This is the best thing I have ever made for hotdog relish! I adore hotdogs and this elevates them to Queen status! BTW, the cumin was beautiful! Not too much never too little.

Josephine

Two TABLESPOONS of cumin? I find that a bit much.

Nina

For three peppers it is indeed.

Sarah

Just made this and now eating with some roast chicken thighs. So easy an absolutely delicious, thank you!

Luther

Excellent! And a must is you are fixing the ropa vieja recipe.

Es

I made a batch to serve with steak. Added a large, sliced portobello mushroom to the mix. I enjoyed the cumin although I probably didn't use a full 2 tsp. Use any herb or spice depending on what you're serving this with, e.g., taggaron might be super with chicken.

JAN

Two tablespoons of cumin seems excessive

Rich

I'm always confused w/ how to tell when peppers are done. I cook for 1 (myself) and always try to cook in big batches; so I doubled recipe in a medium sized enameled cast iron from Ikea. The veggies fresh cut filled the pot to brim - which I knew would affect cooking time. I stirred often, and it's still watery. Onions look great, and tender. But peppers still have a little crunch, and aren't 'soft'. Is that 'tender' for peppers? I know they're not supposed to be mushy, but...

Nina

"Tender" means that the peppers are soft and retain a slight soft bite and their structure without falling apart. But they should not crunch any longer.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Braised Peppers and Onions Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do I cook onions or peppers first? ›

Note we like to start cooking the pepper first (before the onion) because it takes longer for pepper to cook down to the same softness. Add the onion to the same pan and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until it's just starting to soften.

Do you cook peppers and onions before meat? ›

Recipes using ground beef, peppers, and onions

You can start by sautéing the peppers and onions in oil or butter until the peppers are soft and the onion is translucent, then add the ground beef and continue to cook together.

How do you can peppers and onions? ›

Toss together onions and bell peppers. Pack vegetables tightly in hot jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Cover vegetables with hot pickling liquid, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal and process jars, processing 5 minutes.

How do you sweat peppers and onions? ›

Instructions. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, peppers, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are caramelized and the peppers are tender and slightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.

Do peppers and onions do well together? ›

Peppers and onions don't just pair well in the kitchen; pepper and onion companion plants are also perfect partners in the garden. Onions' strong aroma repels many garden pests and can keep deer and rabbits from browsing on your bell peppers.

How long are sauteed onions and peppers good for? ›

Can I Make Sautéed Peppers & Onions Ahead? Yes! Cook then refrigerate them for up to 4 days. You can even use this recipe to meal prep a week of dinners with this plan.

How long to cook peppers before adding meat? ›

Slice the peppers in half from the stem end down through the base. Remove all the seeds and membranes. Place the peppers, cut side up, in a 9×13-inch baking dish; drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil and sprinkle with the remaining salt. Roast the peppers for about 20 minutes, until slightly browned and tender-crisp.

Can you cook raw onions and raw meat together? ›

Ground beef with onion is a flavorful combination called for in a number of recipes. Sometimes -- as with sloppy Joes or beef casseroles -- you can just toss diced onion into the pan with the meat while you cook it. This doesn't work for solid preparations, though, such as meatloaves, meatballs and hamburgers.

Can I put onions in with raw meat? ›

Food Director Amira Geory backs this trick, saying: “Adding raw onion to marinades not only adds flavour, but it also tenderises the meat.

What is the Holy Trinity of onions and peppers? ›

The Holy Trinity Ratio

Typically, the Holy Trinity uses a 2:1:1 ratio of onions, celery, and peppers to fill Cajun and Creole dishes with flavor. This differs from the original French Mirepoix, which usually uses a 2:1:1 ratio of onions, celery, and carrots.

How do you keep chopped peppers and onions fresh? ›

Either leave them whole and keep them out of the frig in a cool, dark, dry place, or if you have peeled and chopped them, double bag them in a baggie or a Food saver bag and store in the freezer.

What is the combination of onions peppers and celery called? ›

In Cajun and Creole cuisine, a mirepoix or (jocularly so-called) "holy trinity" is a combination of onions, celery, and bell peppers. Traditionally, the weight ratio for mirepoix is 2:1:1 of onions, celery, and carrots; the ratio for bones to mirepoix for stock is 10:1.

What's the difference between sweating and caramelizing onions? ›

Sweating your onions, or any food really, simply means to cook out the water content. So for onions, you'll sweat them out and they'll turn translucent but they'll still keep their integrity. Whereas caramelizing onions changes their consistency and color to give them a rich, brown color and flavor.

What does sweating onions do? ›

In sweating, the onions soften and release their moisture and flavor at a leisurely pace so the onions cook in their own juices. As many of their flavoring compounds are volatile, if any subsequent cooking continues for a lengthy period, the flavors of onions mellow to background nuances.

What is the difference between sweating and sauteing onions? ›

Sweating is similar to sautéeing, with the difference being that in the latter technique, higher heat is used, and the food will often be browned. Sweating is more about softening, not browning. It's used when you don't want the brown color and flavors that happen in the Maillard reaction of browning.

Do you Precook onions and peppers for pizza? ›

Scatter thinly sliced raw onions over your pie and they'll probably cook through, but you'll be missing the chance for an easy pizza enhancer. Mellow the sharp, pungent bite of yellow onions by caramelizing, or slowly cooking them until softened and fragrant over low heat.

Do you saute tomatoes or onions first? ›

Add onions and saute over medium heat until they begin to soften and start to brown slightly, about 5 minutes (depends on the size of your onions, though!) Add tomatoes, and reduce heat to medium low. Add more broth if pan looks dry. When tomatoes have begun to soften, add spices, stirring to distribute evenly.

Do you cook onions or tomatoes first? ›

Cooks often fry onions before tomatoes in cooking for several reasons:
  1. Flavor Development: Onions, when fried, release their natural sugars and develop a sweet and savory flavor profile. ...
  2. Aromatic Base: Onions are often used as an aromatic base in many cuisines around the world.
Sep 13, 2023

What goes first tomato or onion? ›

3/4. If you are using whole garlic/ginger if using paste onion will go first. Adding tomato should be last because otherwise meat won't get tender due to acidity.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6342

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.