Between all the exciting ingredients that come and leave the fridge, you can always find red bell peppers sitting somewhere in the crisper drawer, an ever-reliable presence. From there, they’re often left to languish in stir-fries or fade into the tumultuous toppings of pizza. We rarely demand more of red bell peppers, and what a mistake that is. They deserve as much flair and excitement as any other vegetable, and there’s an easy, two-ingredient path that takes you straight there: cheese and maple syrup. Roast this sweet, sun-ripened veggie with them, and you get a homemade dish enticing enough to grace fancy restaurants.
Pairing it with cheese and maple syrup might just be one of the most unique ways to flavor red bell peppers, but hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Together, these three can craft pure heaven on your plate. Sweetness comes in layers with the red bell pepper and maple syrup. One leans towards the fresh, earthy tone that blends right into savory dishes, while the other glazes and glosses with a decadent intensity often reserved for desserts. Although seemingly from different realms, they’re bridged together by the cheese. Its tangy depth is the perfect foil for highlighting those sweet tones, wrapping the bell peppers in a melted flavor hug as the syrup sinks right in. The oven heat folds everything into one, and with every forkful, you’ll fall more and more in love with this unique combination of ingredients.
A combination that takes on many forms
It all starts with finding the right cheese, one that will mesh well with the maple syrup. Go with varieties that melt well if you want an ooey-gooey, stringy pull in every forkful. Some cheeses melt much better than others, such as cheddar, Gouda, and mozzarella. Luckily, their milky, buttery tang happens to pair beautifully with the syrup’s floral hints. Gouda, in particular, has a nutty, caramel undertone that blends right into the syrup. On the saltier side, there is halloumi and feta. Despite not fully melting, they amplify the flavor contrast to a much more interesting feat. Spiciness is also a possibility, especially with something that offsets the sweetness, like a habanero cheddar. As for creaminess, nothing gets the job done like ricotta, mascarpone, and goat cheese.
The fun extends beyond experimenting with the cheese varieties. There are so many different ways to enjoy the red bell peppers once you’ve roasted them. Stuffed peppers — often a dinner-time favorite — are the perfect canvas to try this combination on. All chopped up and tossed into a salad, the bell pepper is undeniably the star ingredient of a sophisticated side dish. With an immersion blender, tomato paste, and creamy dairy, you can even have a steaming hot bowl of bell pepper soup infused with gorgeous layers of flavors. Alongside a flavorful protein, like a maple-glazed sheet pan salmon, it’s the missing piece you need for a restaurant-worthy meal.
