Roasted Peppers With Capers, Olives and Anchovy

A fresh sweet pepper roasted at home can be revelatory. The flames of an outdoor grill, stovetop burner or broiler add a touch of smokiness, while helping to remove a pepper’s tough skin. To prevent the pepper from overcooking, do not place it in a closed container after roasting, as some suggest — just let it cool uncovered on a plate. The skin will still come off and the flesh won’t be mushy. The combination of sweet pepper and salty anchovy is classic. Serve this carpaccio-style, using a whole pepper to cover the plate, or arrange in alternating rows.

Ingredients

4
red bell or other large sweet peppers, such as Corno di Toro
Kosher salt and black pepper
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
1
small garlic clove, grated
Extra-virgin olive oil
12
anchovy fillets, rinsed and blotted
1
teaspoon capers
12
black olives
Basil leaves, for garnish

Preparation

Roast the peppers: Place each pepper directly on the flames of a stovetop burner or under the broiler as close to the flames as possible. (Alternatively, place the pepper on a hot charcoal or gas grill.) Turning frequently with tongs, allow the skin to blacken and blister all over; About 10 minutes should suffice. Remove from flames, and leave to rest on a plate until cool enough to handle. Ideally, you should cook all the peppers at once rather than one at a time.
Cut the roasted pepper in half lengthwise. Using a small knife, scrape away and discard seeds. Turn over and scrape away the blackened skin. Wipe with a paper towel, if necessary. Do not rinse — a little char is fine. Leave the pepper halves in one piece or cut into strips 3/4-inch wide. Place in a small bowl, toss with salt and pepper, red-pepper flakes, garlic and a little olive oil. Leave to marinate at least 10 minutes.
Lay pepper halves or strips flat on a plate and add 3 or 4 anchovy fillets per serving. Garnish with a few capers and olives. Sprinkle with a little more salt and olive oil, and scatter basil leaves over the top.