Recipe: Pimientos del Padrón

Don't you want a pepper too? Don't be scared of these hot and spicy gems.

There's more to do with peppers than making salsa. Here's a simple recipe perfect for making a snack everyone can enjoy wile watching the ballgame, or while waiting for the steaks to come off the grill.

Check out the Larkspur farmers market at Marin Country Mart every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon, and the Corte Madera farmers market at the Town Center every Wednesday, from noon to 5 p.m.

Pimientos del Padrón 

Ingredients

• Padrón peppers (20)
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• ¼ tsp sea salt 

Directions: Clean the peppers by rinsing them lightly. Dry them completely so they won't splatter when they hit the hot oil. Leave the stems attached. Place the olive oil in a large skillet. Allow the olive oil to heat on medium high heat.

Place all of the peppers in the heated oil; it will take a moment or two for them to begin cooking. Stir or turn with a metal slotted spoon. Once they are bubbling and boiling in the hot oil watch for the skins to start puffing, wrinkling, and browning. This should only take a few minutes. 

Remove the cooked peppers from the oil and placeon a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain off excess oil.

— Courtesy Marin Country Mart farmers market