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.
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Blistered Peppers with Lemon Goat Cheese Dip
Blistered Shishito Peppers are a popular appetizer, but they can get quite spicy. So if you want something with a little less heat, these sweet peppers will be just perfect!
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.
Why You’ll Love this Sweet Peppers Recipe:
- HEALTHY: This is a simple appetizer, you can feel good about eating–no need to stop at just one. Produce never tasted so good!
- ANY TIME APPETIZER: These can be made year round on the stove, or in the summer on the grill. It’s perfect before dinner or with cocktails!
- QUICK AND EASY: These blistered sweet peppers come together in a matter of minutes and are great to serve as a last minute app. Nothing complicated here!
How to Make Blistered Sweet Peppers
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Heat the oil in a skillet.
- Add the peppers, cook just a few minutes until blistered, and sprinkle with salt.
- Combine the ingredients for the goat cheese dip.
- Serve and enjoy!
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 shishietos!
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.
These sweet peppers are blistered to perfection in a skillet to create the most amazing flavor that is all natural, but better! And the texture is makes them irresistible!
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.
What do you dip sweet peppers in?
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 or this herb cream cheese dip.
More recipes to make with peppers
- Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
- Rainbow Pepper Hummus Dip
- Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
These blistered sweet peppers are such an easy last minute appetizer. I love the burst of color that they add to the table, and the burst of sweetness when you bite into then. Plus that goat cheese dip is all kinds of delicious!
More Appetizer Recipes We Love
- Antipasto Skewers
- Mini Pizza Appetizers
- Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- Kielbasa Sausage Bites
- Three Cheese Focaccia Bread
- Hot Pepper Jelly Dip
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Blistered Sweet Peppers with Lemon Pepper Goat Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 20-25 small 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 juice from one lemon
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 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 small sweet peppers, Sea Salt to taste
- 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 garlic
- Serve peppers warm with goat cheese dip. Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
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
Can you make the dip and/or peppers a day before serving?
I can’t wait to make these beautiful blistered peppers! You make them look so good!
Aw thank you so much Reese!! Thanks for stopping by!
HAHA goat cheese hot tub! I had goat cheese for the first time not very long ago and fell in love! These look so beautiful and would be a great app to serve this coming football season!!
I’m obsessed with goat cheese and glad I’m not alone :) Thanks Malinda!!
This is a Macedonian’s summer night dinner fantasy! We are literally crazy for roasted/blistered/stuffed/you name it/ peppers. :-D
I really need to visit Macedonia!! And your stuffed peppers are next on my list girl!!!! xo
goats cheese is my best! Loving all the colours here.
Thank you so much!!!
Lookin Good! I’ll take a dip in your goat cheese hot tub!
I would too LOL!!!! Thanks Holly :)
Only you, my dear friend, could make blistered sweet peppers photograph so perfectly. Pinned!
Aw thank you Justine!!!
These are some of your best photos so far. Love this post and love the cooking method!! Great!!!
Thanks mom :) :)
I love those mini sweet peppers. This looks awesome! And I just have to say that your site is always a sight for my sore eyes! It’s just beautiful, design, pictures and all!
Aw thank you Michelle! That is so sweet and means a ton coming from you!
These look perfectly blistered and ready to be eaten.
Thanks Gerry!