Beyond Boring: 3 Surprisingly Delicious Ways to Mix Onion and Pepper

Onions and peppers: a pantry staple duo that often gets relegated to the side dish category. But these humble vegetables have so much more potential! This post will show you three surprisingly delicious ways to transform onions and peppers from an afterthought to the star of the show.

Recipe 1: Rainbow Veggie Fajita Bowls

These fajita bowls are a vibrant explosion of flavor and a perfect weeknight meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooked protein of your choice (chicken, steak, tofu, etc.)
• Fajita toppings (shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add peppers and onion, and cook until softened and slightly caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.
2. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional minute.
3. Serve over cooked protein of your choice with your favorite fajita toppings.

Recipe 2: Blistered Onion and Pepper Pasta

This simple pasta dish is bursting with flavor and perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound cooked pasta

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper, and cook until blistered and softened, about 10 minutes.
2. Add cherry tomatoes and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until tomatoes soften slightly.
3. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
4. Toss cooked pasta, feta cheese, basil, salt, and pepper with the vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

Recipe 3: Roasted Veggie Quinoa Salad

This roasted veggie quinoa salad is a healthy and flavorful side dish or vegetarian main course.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, roughly chopped
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss onion, peppers, and olive oil together on a baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and slightly browned.
2. While vegetables roast, cook quinoa according to package instructions with vegetable broth.
3. In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, feta cheese, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat and serve warm or at room temperature.

With just a little creativity, onions and peppers can be transformed into delicious and versatile dishes. So next time you reach for these pantry staples, think beyond the ordinary and try one of these recipes!