Simple and Refreshing Summer Salad
- Carbohydrate 6.4691625 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 3.710535 g
- Fiber 1.71567500817776 g
- Protein 0.9289125 g
- Saturated Fat 0.527264 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (111g)
- Sodium 648.9135 mg
- Sugar 4.75348749182224 g
- Trans Fat 3.10676 g
- Calories 58 calories
Step-by-step
- Char the red bell pepper over a grill or gas flame, or on a cookie sheet under the broiler. Turn the peppers as their skin blisters and chars on all sides. Transfer to a bowl and cover. When peppers are cool to the touch, peel off the skin with your fingers, pull off stems, then tear them open and remove and discard seeds. Cut into large pieces
- Arrange 1 thickly sliced ripe tomato and the large bell peppers pieces.
- Scatter with thinly sliced red onion and capers.
- Drizzle with olive oil, season to taste with coarse salt and cracked black pepper and garnish with thyme.
Most home cooks ruin bell peppers by baking them at low temperatures until they turn mushy and pale. High, direct heat is mandatory. Charring the skin over an open gas flame or directly beneath a broiler heats the outer layer rapidly while leaving the flesh intact. Steam the charred peppers inside a covered bowl for 10 minutes immediately after roasting. Trapped condensation loosens the blackened skin, allowing it to slide off under running water without tearing the tender flesh below.
Textural contrast defines this assembly. Soft, yielding tomatoes and silky pepper strips rely entirely on crisp red onion and briny capers for structural interest. Over-salting too early draws out excess moisture, turning the dressing watery and dissolving the natural firmness of the vegetables. Coarse salt should be applied just before service to maintain distinct layers. Slicing the red onion to a thickness of two millimeters ensures sharp bite without overwhelming the plate.
Olive oil acts as the primary emulsion medium here. Use a cold-pressed oil with high pungency. Fresh thyme leaves supply volatile oils that complement the sweet capsicum notes. Store any leftover components in an airtight glass container for up to 24 hours.
