One of the best parts of summer is all the seasonal produce that comes with it! There are the classic peaches, plums, prickly pears, etc. Another summer classic, especially if you’re from Chicago, is the Melrose Pepper!
A melrose pepper is a type of sweet pepper. It is said that the Melrose Pepper came to be when an Italian immigrant coming to Chicago brought with him some seeds from his hometown to start his garden in his new life. One type of seeds he brought with him would turn into the melrose pepper– a sweet pepper! The Melrose Pepper has come to be a beloved summer staple.
It’s simplicity, delicious flavor, and ease to combine with any dish makes it a must try. Want to make a dish with melrose Peppers and not sure what to do? Here are 3 ways to enjoy melrose peppers
Pan Fry
The classic was to enjoy melrose peppers is to simply pan fry them. It’s a simple way to enjoy this delicious bite. You start by putting the peppers in a pan with olive oil and topping them with salt and pepper. Let that cook while you have some garlic and halved cherry tomatoes cooking in another pan. Once the pepper has a nice char, combine all the items in one pan and let the flavors merge together. Pair it with your favorite bread and enjoy a delicious sandwich!
With Barese Sausage
Just like the pan frying, you’re going to start by cooking the melrose peppers and the tomatoes and garlic. Meanwhile, on a grill or stove, cook some Barese sausage. Combine all the ingredients and you have a simple and satisfying dish. There are few things that make a better combo than Melrose Peppers and Caputo’s Homemade Barese Sausage
Stuffed Peppers
For our stuffed Melrose Peppers, we like to slice the pepper in half long ways and remove all the seeds. We lay them down flat in a pan with the cut middle facing up (almost like stuffed pepper boats). For our stuffing, we combined Caputo’s bulk sausage, chopped onions, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, breadcrumbs, parmesan, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix all these items together, fill the pepper with the mixture, and put them in the oven!
These suggestions all call for simple ingredients that provide satisfying dishes with this Chicago pepper! How do you enjoy your melrose peppers?
From Our Family To Yours
I stuff my peppers w ricotta and topped marinara sauce. I am looking forward to trying your recipes. I love the peppers and look forward to them all year.
Sounds fabulous, Anita.
That sounds amazing im going to try that
I fry or grill till brown then add salt pepper oregano olive oil & wine vinager
This too, sounds great, Marie.
I sauté them with garlic and olive oil while browning Italian sausage and some quartered potatoes, mixing the ingredients together when finished.
Another method: I stuff them whole with either a seasoned lamb or ground beef mixture with quartered potatoes adding marinara sauce and olive oil over the entire ensemble baked in the oven.
Note: I use a pastry gun to stuff the peppers which makes it easier.
Nothing like Melrose Peppers and this is the season for it!