Sweet Pepper Salad
Sweet Pepper Salad is a simple, fresh way to enjoy mini bell peppers. It’s quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients, highlighting the vibrant color and flavor of your homegrown peppers!
Bell Pepper Salad Recipe
If you’ve just harvested mini bell peppers (or picked them up from the farmer’s market), this salad lets the garden ingredients shine. With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy a fresh, flavorful salad that captures the essence of summer. The dressing adds a tangy note from the white wine vinegar and added freshness from the dill, while a light sprinkling of feta brings the right amount of richness to balance the sweet bell peppers. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for a summer BBQ or picnic.
As a home gardener, I appreciate how easy it is to grow mini bell peppers. These peppers thrive in warm temperatures, and can be harvested when they’re still green or after they’ve ripened to red, orange, or yellow. This crunchy bell pepper salad recipe showcases their crisp texture and mild sweetness.
Garden Tips for Growing Sweet Peppers 🌱
Growing sweet peppers can be very rewarding, especially when you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor in a simple recipe like this one. Here are some garden tips to help you grow the best mini bell peppers:
- Start Indoors: Pepper plants need warmth to thrive. Start seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Once the seedlings are a few inches tall and the outdoor temperatures are consistently warm, it’s time to move them into your raised bed.
- Pick the Right Spot: Peppers love full sun, so choose a spot in your garden that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Raised beds are ideal for peppers because they offer excellent drainage and more control over soil quality.
- Watering: Peppers like consistent moisture but don’t want to be sitting in soggy soil. Make sure your raised bed has good drainage, and water your peppers evenly throughout the growing season, ensuring the soil stays moist but not waterlogged.
- Harvesting Tips: For the best flavor, harvest sweet peppers when they are fully colored but still slightly firm to the touch. Gently twist the pepper off the plant, or use pruning shears to avoid damaging the plant.
If you find yourself with an abundance of mini bell peppers from your garden, and more than you can use right away, consider preserving them for later. Canning mini bell peppers is a great way to make sure you can enjoy their sweet, crunchy flavor throughout the year. Check out my Canning Recipe for Peppers to preserve your harvest and enjoy it long after the season ends!
Ingredients for Sweet Pepper Salad
You will need the following:
- Mini Bell Peppers: These small, colorful peppers offer a mild sweetness and crisp texture, making them perfect for slicing into rings. They’re ideal for fresh dishes like salsas, grain bowls, and stuffed peppers, or as a crunchy topping for salads and tacos.
- Feta Cheese: Feta cheese has a tangy, crumbly texture that adds a creamy richness to the salad. Use vegan feta for a plant-based dish.
- Dill: Fresh herbs bring a bright, aromatic flavor. Its vibrant taste works well with the crisp peppers, adding a refreshing note to the salad.
- White Wine Vinegar: Known for its mild, fruity flavor, as compared to regular white vinegar, white wine vinegar balances the sweetness of the peppers and the richness of the feta. It helps bring all the flavors together. An equal amount of rice vinegar can also be used.
Can I use regular bell peppers?
Yes, they are slightly less sweet than mini peppers, but regular red, orange, or yellow bell peppers will work just as well. Slice them into rings or thin strips, depending on your preference. Green bell peppers generally have a more bitter taste and are not recommended for this recipe.
How to Make Sweet Pepper Salad
STEP ONE: Prepare the Peppers. Start by slicing off the tops of the mini peppers and scooping out and discarding the seeds. Next, slice the peppers into thin rings and place them into a medium-sized bowl. Add the thinly sliced red onion and set the bowl aside.
STEP TWO: Make the Dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, fresh dill, garlic salt, and ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste. Pour the dressing over the peppers and onions and toss to coat evenly.
STEP THREE: Add the Feta. Gently toss in the crumbled feta and give it one last light toss. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve at room temperature.
Storage
- This salad is best served fresh to enjoy its vibrant flavor and crisp texture. However, if you have leftover bell pepper salad, cover and refrigerate it for up to 1 day. The peppers may soften slightly as they sit, but the flavor will still be fresh and delicious.
Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and share your tips in the comments below. Thanks for being part of our growing community!
Sweet Pepper Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound mini bell peppers
- 1/4 cup red onion thin sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Start by slicing off the tops of the mini peppers and scooping out and discarding the seeds. Next, slice the peppers into thin rings and place them into a medium-sized bowl. Add the thinly sliced red onion and set the bowl aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, fresh dill, garlic salt, and ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste. Pour the dressing over the peppers and onions and toss to coat evenly.
- Gently toss in the crumbled feta and give it one last light toss. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve at room temperature.
