A Southern Grace: peter piper picked...

July 17, 2015

peter piper picked...

Yum

...a peck of purple peppers!


I don't say very many things definitively (I'm a hemmer and hawer from way back), but I will state this: Purple is my favorite color. Now, don't ask me to specify a particular shade of purple--that ain't happening. But whether I'm picking out a marker, buying a new shirt, or deciding on flowers for our wedding, purple is and probably always will be my first choice.


We got a packet of carnival mix pepper seeds, and I was delighted when the first color that emerged was purple. As it's turning out, it's the only color emerging*, but that's okay with me. I've been slipping the purple peppers into everything from pasta salad to barbecue chicken pot pie, and I finally decided that they deserved more of a spotlight.

*It just so happens that I just reaped our first orange pepper, thereby making this an inaccurate statement.


Though the (homegrown!) green beans are the major component of this dish, the peppers are not taking a backseat. Their color, crunch, and punch of flavor are all noticeable and appreciated. The color faded a bit with cooking, but I'm still absolutely delighted by my purple peppers! Maybe I can convince my beau that we should grow an entirely purple garden next year...

Green Beans and Purple Peppers
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 1 cup thinly sliced purple pepper
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste
Directions:
Cook green beans in boiling salted water to cover 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain well.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add bell pepper and sauté 4 minutes or until tender.
Add green beans, vinegar, sugar, basil, salt, and pepper, and toss to combine.
Cook for a minute or two, until the beans are warmed and the sauce has thickened a bit.

16 comments:

janice15 said...

They the beans and Purple peppers look wonderful.. I like some plz.. for dinner.. I love Green beans.. Have a great day with love Janice

Marcela said...

Green Beans and Purple Peppers sound great! I bet it tastes amazing!

Pam said...

Woo hoo! I love purple too and this recipe sounds great! Beans and peppers, yum! That color of flowers in a wedding would be outstanding! Off to find some purple peppers...

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies said...

Lol... Yes... you do need my purple beans to add to your mix! We planted those same peppers, but learned that we should have started our little seeds a little bit earlier. Glad you did better than we did!

Gerlinde de Broekert said...

Honestly, i have never seen purple peppers like yours. Green beans and peppers compliment each other nicely, what a great dish.

Beth said...

You have a wedding coming up?? Did I miss a post somewhere?? So exciting!!
Also, the peppers are gorgeous!

Cali @ Cali's Cuisine said...

OK.

First: Wedding?!?!?! Congrats! How exciting!!!

Second: Purple peppers?!?!? How fun!

I've seen purple peppers at the market. I may have to pick some up and give them a try. (Purple is my favorite color in general and my favorite veggie - eggplant - is generally a beautiful shade of purple.)

Julia @ Sprinkled With Jules said...

Wow I have never seen purple peppers before! They are beautiful. And I bet this was even more delicious since it was home grown!

Angie's Recipes said...

A purple garden sounds just as marvelous as this delicious dish! Those purple peppers are really fun and beautiful.

Joanne said...

I love it when I can find purple peppers at the farmer's market! Now you just have to find purple green beans as well - they're out there!

Kate @ Framed Cooks said...

Purple peppers! You learn something new every day - these look both fun AND scrumptious!

lisa is cooking said...

Purple peppers are so pretty! I wish they kept their color when cooked. An all purple garden sounds fantastic!

Katerina said...

I have never seen purple peppers around here but I bet they are so tasty! This is a great vegan dish Grace!

Pam said...

Your purple peppers are pretty! :)

Love the simplicity of the side dish. It lets the flavors of the homegrown veggies shine!

Marjie said...

Not a fan of peppers, but I adore green beans! Color makes everything better, don't you think?

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Ooh we rarely see purple peppers here so it would be such a treat having home grown ones! :D I love the sound of this dish and my mother in law is also a purple lover!