Faux Soprano Peppers

This is based on a recipe from my mother’s copy of Entertaining with the Sopranos. (Good job combating negative Italian stereotypes, Mom. Oh, that’s right. You’re Scandinavian!) A similar version can also be found on Giampino’s antipasto buffet.

Everyone will love these peppers, especially those who would have no problem eating breadcrumbs seasoned with olive oil, garlic, lots of Locatelli, chopped fresh parsley, and s & p as a meal; who regularly consume portions of capers large enough to be considered vegetable courses, and who’ve sustained a multi-year obsession with Capsicum of all kinds. Know anyone like that? Me neither.

Don't look inside. It won't work.

2 large sweet peppers. You can use bell peppers, but I prefer Italian frying peppers for their thin skins and yummy, mild taste

2 – 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped

½ - 1 cup freshly grated Locatelli cheese

¾ - 1 cup panko crumbs

1 – 1 ½ tbsp capers, rinsed and roughly chopped

½ - ¾ cup olive oil

½ tsp bacon fat

Large handful of fresh basil, parsley, and/or mint, roughly chopped.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375°.

Cut peppers in half. Clean out the seeds and as much of the ribs as possible. Cut or tear the pepper halves into strips. I prefer to tear or break them. It just seems like the right, rustic thing to do.

Arrange the pepper pieces on a baking sheet lined with tinfoil and sprayed with non-stick. Sprinkle all of the other ingredients over the peppers, but save a bit of the fresh herbs for topping the peppers after cooking. Toss until well-mixed, but make sure the peppers are in a single layer (or as close as you can get) before putting it in the oven.

Bake until the edges of the peppers get brown and crinkly and they have the silky texture of roasted peppers, the breadcrumbs cake together and turn golden, and it smells really good, about 20 – 25 minutes. You could give it a stir in the middle of the cooking time if you want. Don't forget to add the final fresh green touch of the remaining herbs. Magical!

-Elena