Peperonata is a delicious, simple recipe made with peppers. It is a popular Italian dish that is made in the summer and is served as a side or over bread drizzled with olive oil.
The Peperonata recipe does vary from region to region, I like to add olives to my peperonata for some extra flavor. The traditional Emilian Peperonata recipe has the addition of balsamic vinegar but is optional.
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Make sure to use a selection of different colored peppers from green, yellow, orange, and red for the best flavors. although this is an Italian dish, Croatians make a very similar dish and something I grew up with and my mother made every summer. Looking for an easy Italian dessert, try this delicious tiramisu recipe.
It is an extremely easy recipe. I usually start by trimming and slicing my peppers and onions. Be sure to discard the white rib from the pepper as this is bitter.
Peperonata Recipe Ingredients
- 6 bell peppers of different colors cut into strips
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 2 onions sliced into strips
- 5 basil leaves or oregano
- 1 large can of diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
- olives optional

Peperonata Recipe Instructions
- Slice onions and peppers into thin strips
- In a large pot add the 1/4 olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook just until it is golden. Increase the heat and add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the sliced peppers and let cook until softened, stirring often, around 15-20 minutes.
- Add the can of diced tomato and herbs and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, approximately 45 minutes – 1 hour.
- Stir in the vinegar. Remove herb sprigs.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- optional: add olives
- Serve hot as a side dish or over bread drizzled with olive oil.

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