Roasted Peppers Stuffed With Goat Cheese

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 8 sweet red peppers (㢠sheepnose pimento㢠recommended)
• 1 ounce golden raisin (or you can use regular raisins)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 teaspoons sea salt (maldon recommended)
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 8 ounces mild soft fresh goat cheese
• 12 tablespoons basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 2 ounces pine nuts (they are so expensive now, use other nuts if desired)
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish (optional)
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Recipe

• 1 roast peppers directly under broiler or over an open flame, turning frequently until blistered and blackened on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. place in a large bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let sit for 15 minutes to steam. when cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to peel off skin. slit each pepper down one side. remove stem and seeds.
• 2 meanwhile, preheat oven to 475 degrees f and position a rack in the upper third of oven. in a small bowl, combine raisins and boiling water. let sit for 5 minutes, then drain and set aside.
• 3 place peppers, peeled sides down, on a cutting board and press lightly to flatten. sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper. divide goat cheese into eighths and shape each into a log about 2 1/2 inches long. place each log on top of a pepper. sprinkle cheese with three-quarters of basil, then pine nuts and reserved raisins. fold each pepper over (like a canoe on its side) to sandwich the cheese, basil, nuts, and raisins. press down gently to flatten.
• 4 place peppers on a baking pan. sprinkle with breadcrumbs and drizzle with olive oil. sprinkle with cayenne, if desired. bake peppers until breadcrumbs are golden, about 10 minutes. garnish with remaining basil. drizzle with about 2 tablespoons olive oil, if desired.