By Becky Hardin
Published Sep 2, 2015
This is the easiest, prettiest, and tastiest appetizer you’ll ever make! Blistered sweet peppers are served alongside a creamy goat cheese dip for one delicious bite. It’s great to have a healthy appetizer up your sleeve for any occasion, and this is just perfect.
What’s in Blistered Peppers with Lemon Goat Cheese Dip?
This recipe is made with beautiful, colorful little peppers, and sautéing them really brings out their natural sweetness! Paired with a lemon pepper goat cheese dip, it becomes the most delicious appetizer.
- Peppers: You’ll want to look for mini sweet peppers. They’re the perfect size for dipping! If you can’t find them, opt for bell peppers cut into strips.
- Cooking Oil : I used canola oil for its high smoke point, but you could use vegetable oil or avocado oil instead.
- Salt: I like to sprinkle these peppers with a bit of sea salt, but you can leave it off if you prefer.
- Goat Cheese: Plain goat cheese forms the base of this dip. It’s rich, creamy, and tangy!
- Milk: I used skim milk to thin out the dip without adding too many calories. You could use 2%, whole, or plant-based milk instead.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds freshness and acidity to the dip. I do not recommend using bottled lemon juice, as the flavor will not be as good.
- Seasoning: Lemon pepper seasoning gives this dip its lemon pepper taste. This is a premade seasoning blend you can buy at the grocery store.
- Garlic: Adds garlicky flavor to the dip. You’ll need one clove. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Pro Tip: Goat cheese comes in packages of 4 and 8 ounces, so opt for an 8-ounce package and save the rest for another use, like mashed potatoes .
Spicy Blistered Peppers
For a spicier take, swap the mini sweet peppers for Shishito peppers. Shishitos are generally mild but with a bit of a kick. You can also add crushed red pepper flakes to the goat cheese dip.
In cooking, “blistering” means to briefly cook food on high direct heat until the skin blackens. This is a quick caramelization process, which brings out lots of flavor and natural sweetness.
This is a recipe for sweet peppers, which have a mild sweet flavor, rather than spicy. Bell peppers are one example. You can often find a bag of small, colorful sweet peppers in the produce aisle of your local grocery store, like what I used here.
No, these do not end up spicy. If you want more heat, add a few flakes of red chili flakes after blistering. Or try using a spicier pepper variety, like shishitos!
These are best served warm, straight off the skillet! They only take a matter of minutes to cook up, so no need to prep ahead of time. However, you can make the lemon goat cheese dip 2 or 3 days ahead of time and just keep it covered in the fridge.
How to Store Blistered Mini Peppers
Store leftover peppers and goat cheese dip separately in airtight containers. They will both keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
What to Serve with Sweet Peppers
Every good appetizer includes a bit of dipping. These blistered sweet peppers are perfectly paired with a quick-to-make lemon pepper goat cheese dip! It’s super creamy, and has a balanced flavor that is a little bit acidic, a little bit savory, with a nice bite from the goat cheese.
These would also be great with a simple hummus , pepper jelly dip , white queso , or herb cream cheese dip . Or add them to a fun charcuterie board .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 20-25 mini sweet peppers
- ▢ 1 tablespoon canola oil
- ▢ Sea salt to taste
- ▢ 5 ounces plain goat cheese crumbled or sliced
- ▢ 2 tablespoons skim milk
- ▢ 2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 lemon
- ▢ 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- ▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Video
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. I used canola oil because it has a high smoke point. 1 tablespoon canola oil
- Add the peppers and stir to coat in the oil. Allow to cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until smoking and blistered to your liking. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. 20-25 mini sweet peppers, Sea salt
- While peppers are cooking, combine goat cheese, milk, lemon juice, lemon pepper, and garlic in a food processor or blender. It should be creamy. If too thick, add a bit more milk. If too thin add a bit more goat cheese. 5 ounces plain goat cheese, 2 tablespoons skim milk, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Serve peppers warm with goat cheese dip. Enjoy!
Equipment
- Food Processor OR
- High Powered Blender
Becky’s Tips
- Use a high heat neutral oil like canola or vegetable.
- Allow the oil in the skillet to get hot before adding the peppers.
- Let the peppers sit for a minute before moving them in the skillet so that they blister. Turn each one over so they cook on all sides.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Goat Cheese Recipes We Love
- Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini
- Fried Goat Cheese Balls
- Garlic Herb Goat Cheese Dip
- Peach and Strawberry Bruschetta
- Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
- Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Blistered Sweet Peppers with Lemon Pepper Goat Cheese Dip
Equipment
- Food Processor OR
- High Powered Blender
Ingredients
- 20-25 mini sweet peppers
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- Sea salt to taste
- 5 ounces plain goat cheese crumbled or sliced
- 2 tablespoons skim milk
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. I used canola oil because it has a high smoke point. 1 tablespoon canola oil
- Add the peppers and stir to coat in the oil. Allow to cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until smoking and blistered to your liking. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. 20-25 mini sweet peppers, Sea salt
- While peppers are cooking, combine goat cheese, milk, lemon juice, lemon pepper, and garlic in a food processor or blender. It should be creamy. If too thick, add a bit more milk. If too thin add a bit more goat cheese. 5 ounces plain goat cheese, 2 tablespoons skim milk, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Serve peppers warm with goat cheese dip. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use a high heat neutral oil like canola or vegetable.
- Allow the oil in the skillet to get hot before adding the peppers.
- Let the peppers sit for a minute before moving them in the skillet so that they blister. Turn each one over so they cook on all sides.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
