Cook Like a Rock Star: 125 Recipes, Lessons, and Culinary Secrets: A Cookbook

Serves: 6 to 8
Time: about 30 minutes

Mise en place:
Extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, pith removed, and cut into 1/2-inch diamonds
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon pimenton (smoked paprika)
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 8-to 10-ounce log of goat cheese, at room temp
Chopped fresh chives, for garnish (optional)
1 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices, toasted or grilled

1. Coat a large sauté pan with olive oil, add the onions and red pepper, season with salt, and bring to medium heat. Cook the onions until soft and aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure they don’t brown.

2. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes; it should start to smell really good!

3. Add the peppers and 1/4 cup water; season with salt. Continue cooking until the peppers have softened and the water has evaporated, another 8 to 10 minutes.

4. Add the tomato paste, pimenton, and sherry vinegar and stir to combine; taste for salt (it will probably need more). Cook until the mixture comes together and looks tightened up and slightly thickened, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

5. I like to squish the goat cheese into a serving bowl and nestle the peperonata in the center rather than spooning it over an entire log--it’s more rustic-looking this way. Garnish with chives if you like and serve with baguette slices.