Turning Counter Peppers into an Italian-Inspired Side Dish
Last week, we finally stopped into a local Italian store I’ve had my eye on for ages. Every time we passed by, it was either closed or we were in a rush. But this time, the stars aligned—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
I ordered some Italian peppers and olives, and oh man… the flavor was unreal. The kind of side dish that sticks in your mind.
Fast forward to today—my wife looked at the peppers sitting on the counter and said, “You need to do something with these.” And just like that, I had a flashback to that incredible side dish from the store. So I decided to recreate it—garden-style.
Photos
Here’s what I did:
- Chopped up all the peppers I had
- Threw them into a bowl
- Added some avocado oil
- Diced up a few celery stalks
- Sliced in some olives
- Sprinkled in Italian seasoning
That was it. Simple. Fresh. Flavor-packed. And boom—that same “OMG” taste came right back.
This one's officially going on the EatingTheFoodThatIGrow menu. I may not be able to grow olives here in Wisconsin, but everything else in that dish? That’s straight from my garden.
Keep growing—and keep enjoying what you grow!
Italian-Inspired Marinated Pepper Salad
A quick, fresh, garden-powered side dish inspired by a visit to a local Italian market.
Ingredients
- 3–4 fresh garden peppers (any mix of sweet or mildly spicy), chopped
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1/2 cup olives, sliced (green or black—your choice)
- 2–3 tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1–2 tsp Italian seasoning (to taste)
- Optional: pinch of salt and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Add chopped peppers, diced celery, and sliced olives to a large bowl.
- Drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle Italian seasoning over the top.
- Mix well to coat everything evenly.
- Let sit for at least 10–15 minutes to let the flavors blend—or refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Enjoy chilled or at room temp as a side or topping.
Tip: Add a splash of red wine vinegar if you want a tangier twist!
