Spanish Blistered Peppers with Ham Salt
Spanish Blistered Peppers with Ham Salt is a delightful and easy snack. This recipe serves four and combines the rich flavor of jamón (Spanish cured ham) with the mild heat of Padrón peppers. You start by crisping up the jamón in a saucepan. Once it's crispy, let it cool down, then blitz it in a food processor or grind it with sea salt flakes to create a flavorful jamón salt. Next, heat some olive oil in a frying pan and add the Padrón peppers, cooking them until their skins blister and brown, giving them a beautiful texture and enhanced flavor. Be careful, as they might pop a bit while cooking. To finish, sprinkle the freshly cooked peppers with your homemade jamón salt.
- 20 g Jamén
- 1 tbsp Sea Salt Flakes
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 300 g Padron Peppers
- Creating Jamón Salt
Start by cooking slices of jamón in a saucepan over medium heat until they achieve a crispy texture. Once crisped to perfection, transfer the jamón to a plate to cool. This step unlocks a deep, rich flavor that will be the essence of your seasoning.
- Processing Jamón
Once the jamón has cooled, place it into a food processor. Pulse until you achieve fine crumbs. Combine these crumbs with salt flakes, either directly in the processor or by transferring to a bowl and mixing thoroughly. For a more hands-on approach, you can also use a pestle and mortar to grind the jamón with the salt. This jamón salt fusion will serve as a unique and savory seasoning. Set it aside as you prepare the peppers.
- Pepper Preparation
Heat a good amount of olive oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Wait until the oil begins to shimmer, indicating it's ready for the peppers.
- Cooking the Peppers
Add the peppers to the hot oil. Stir and cook them until their skins turn a rich, brown color and blister slightly. Be cautious during this process, as the peppers might spit oil as they cook.
- Serving with a Twist
Once the peppers are cooked with blistered skins, remove them from the pan and arrange them on a serving plate. While still hot, sprinkle your homemade jamón salt over the peppers to your liking, enhancing their flavor with this salty, crispy topping. This dish combines the sweetness and slight char of the peppers with the savory depth of the jamón salt for a gourmet experience.
