Add vibrant colour and irresistible smoky flavour to your next BBQ with these easy smoky grilled peppers. Charred until perfectly tender and finished with a drizzle of red wine vinegar, olive oil, and Maldon Smoked Sea Salt, these grilled peppers are the ultimate summer side dish for picnics, parties, or alfresco dining.
How to Make Smoky Grilled Peppers
Step 1 – Prepare the Peppers
Cut peppers into large pieces, removing pith and seeds.
Step 2 – Grill the Peppers
Preheat BBQ or griddle pan to high.
Place peppers skin side down and grill in batches if needed until nicely charred. Make sure to press peppers gently with tongs to ensure even charring.
Step 3 – Finish and Serve
While still hot, drizzle with red wine vinegar and season with Maldon Smoked Sea Salt.
Finish with olive oil before serving.
Tips
Use a mix of red, yellow, and orange peppers for maximum colour and sweetness.
Grill peppers just before serving for best flavour and texture.
For extra smokiness, close the BBQ lid while grilling for a minute or two. This will add depth to the flavour.
This recipe be made indoors on a griddle pan.
Can I make smoky grilled peppers ahead of time?
Yes, you can make smoky grilled peppers ahead of time. Make sure you prepare your grill or smoker beforehand if barbecuing outdoors. Grill the peppers until the skins are nicely charred and blistered. Once cooled, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can peel the skins off from the grilled peppers if you prefer the taste and texture, especially in dishes like pasta sauces and salads.
How long do grilled peppers last in the fridge?
Grilled peppers can last up to 5-10 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. If you want to extend this further, you can freeze them for up to 2 months.
Can I use other types of vinegar?
Yes, you can absolutely use other vinegars instead of red wine vinegar, although the flavour will be slightly different. You can use white wine vinegar, although you won’t get a slightly pink/red hue like red wine vinegar gives. You can also use apple cider vinegar, which has a fruiter flavourful compared to red wine vinegar. Alternatively, sherry vinegar is a slightly sweeter option, which is often used in Spanish cuisine.
Are grilled peppers vegan and gluten-free?
Yes, grilled peppers are both vegan and gluten-free. This is because peppers are naturally plant-based and do not contain any gluten.
Store cooled grilled peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Best served at room temperature—no need to reheat.
Drizzle with extra olive oil to refresh before serving.
If you try these smoky grilled peppers, let us know in the comments! For more BBQ inspiration, explore our summer recipe collection.
When the cold winter months roll in, a hearty yet refreshing dish like a winter chickpea salad is just what you need. This versatile chickpea salad recipe is perfect as a main dish, a side, or even for meal prep. Combining the creaminess of the chickpeas with the vibrant pomegranate seeds, butternut squash, and crunchy baby carrots, this dish is a flavour-packed powerhouse! A generous pinch of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt flakes elevates the flavours, making it the perfect addition to your Veganuary menu or a comforting plant-based option for any day of the week.
Finish the recipe with a simple tahini dressing to make the salad burst with flavour, or instead use vegan mayonnaise to drizzle on top. You can also try crumbling a few pieces of plant-based cheeses to add depth and texture to the dish. We like using Violife Non-Diary Feta Style Cheese which is great when tossed in a crispy salad.
Here’s how to make the Winter Chickpea Salad
This vibrant and healthy salad is packed with roasted butternut squash, baby carrots, crispy chickpeas, and massaged kale, all drizzled with a creamy tahini dressing. Full of nourishing ingredients, it combines sweet, savoury and earthy flavours, complimented by the crunch of pomegranate seeds and toasted mixed seeds. Easy to prepare and full of vitamins, fibre, and plant-based protein, this dish makes for a satisfying and wholesome meal. Perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a nutritious, flavour-packed meal.
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Step 2:
Place the butternut squash and baby carrots onto a roasting tray. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, fennel seeds, Maldon Garlic Sea Salt, and black pepper. Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until tender, golden, and slightly charred.
Step 3:
Drain the chickpeas and pat them dry with kitchen paper. We used Bold Bean Co Organic Chickpeas, but you can substitute with white beans, cannellini beans or butterbeans as they all have the same creamy texture and mild flavour. Spread them onto a second baking tray and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, paprika, and ground cumin. Season well and roast in the oven for 15 minutes until crispy and golden.
Step 4:
While the vegetables and chickpeas are roasting, place the kale into a large mixing bowl. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and a big pinch of Maldon Sea Salt. Massage the kale with your hands to soften it, then set aside.
Step 5:
Prepare the tahini dressing by whisking together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, water, and seasoning until smooth and creamy.
Step 6:
Once the vegetables and chickpeas are roasted, assemble the salad. Toss most of the tahini dressing through the kale and transfer it to a platter. Top with the roasted butternut squash, baby carrots, and crispy chickpeas.
Step 7:
Drizzle over the remaining tahini dressing and garnish with pomegranate seeds and toasted mixed seeds before serving.
What to serve with your chickpea salad?
A winter chickpea salad is versatile and pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Here are some great options to serve alongside it:
Warm Bread
A delicious, crusty bread is perfect for scooping up the salad and soaking up it’s tangy dressing. Try making a cherry tomato and pesto focaccia which is easy to follow and packs a lot of flavour. Alternatively, pairing the salad with a warm, garlic bread add a wonderful savoury flavour to the dish, and adds a tasty crunch to your meal.
Soup
A classic butternut squash soup is hearty in flavour and compliments the fresh, tangy salad. It’s natural sweetness from the squash balances the savoury notes of the salad perfectly.
Protein
As a plant-based option, try adding a few falafel balls to make the dish more substantial and completely vegan.
For non-vegans, grilled chicken makes a hearty, protein-rich pairing. You can also try pairing the salad with baked salmon. The delicate, butter fish is a great compliment to the crunchy chickpeas, roasted squash and baby carrots.
How long will the chickpea salad last in the fridge?
You can keep the chickpea salad in the fridge for up to four day in a secure, airtight container.
Any leftover tahini dressing can be stored a glass mason jar and refrigerate for up to 14 days, however it is best to consume within 5-7 days so that you can taste the tangy flavour. After refrigeration, the dressing can become much thicker and separate, so make sure to store before using again.
Can you freeze a chickpea salad?
You can freeze a chickpea salad for up to three months, but we don’t recommend this as the texture of the salad will change and loose it’s tasty crunchiness.
Any leftover tahini dressing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 8 weeks. Make sure to leave some headspace in the container as liquids expand when freezing. When you want to use the tahini, thaw it in the fridge overnight and give it a good stir before using as it can separate.
We’ve teamed up with Tom Jackson to make a delicious Pizza Fritta Pasta Salad paired with artichokes, ricotta, mint and a cooked tomato dressing.
Tom’s first pizza fritta happened a couple of summers ago in Naples. Volcanically hot tomato sauce, marbled with ricotta, funky guanciale (cured pig cheek) and basil, all encased in a huge half-moon of charred, chewy Neapolitan dough. Unsurprisingly, Tom’s second (and third, fourth, etc.) pizza fritta also happened on that trip. The one Tom had with artichokes and olives was his favourite, and it kindly led him here. To keep things vegetarian, switch the ’nduja for harissa or chilli crisp (or, indeed, a plant-based ’nduja). To make it vegan, switch the ricotta for a plant-based variety or a spoonful or two of moutabal. This recipe makes more dressing than you’ll need, but you’ll be glad of it later!
Here is how to make a pizza fritta pasta salad
Start by making the dressing. Off the heat, place the chunk of ’nduja, the basil sprig and the onion wedge in a medium-sized saucepan then tip the crushed tomatoes on top. Place over a high heat, then, once simmering, reduce the heat to low–medium. Cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, by which time the tomatoes and ‘nduja should have broken down. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature, discarding the basil and onion. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and stir through the datterini tomatoes. Add the vinegar, olive oil and a good pinch of Maldon Chilli Sea Salt. Check for balance, then set aside to marinate. This ‘dressing’ keeps well for up to 3 days in the fridge and is great with lots of other things (just bring back up to room temperature before use).
Cook the pasta in plenty of salty boiling water until al dente (2 minutes less than the total packet instructions), then drain. Rinse briefly, until the pasta is just warm, then drain again.
Gently toss the pasta with roughly 200g (7oz) of your tomato dressing, then add the artichokes, olives, pine nuts and tear in the mint leaves. Toss again, then add the ricotta and gently marble through the dressed pasta (don’t overmix). If you like, finish with more ricotta, a pinch of Maldon Chilli Sea Salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
Spicy cucumber salad is a quick and easy dish that bursts with flavour, making it the perfect addition to any summer feast. This vibrant dish features baby cucumbers, also known as Persian cucumbers, sliced Hasselback style into delightful spirals. We tossed them in a mouth-watering mix of sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, crispy chilli oil, and a touch of honey for sweetness achieving the perfect balance between sweet and spicy. A pinch of Maldon Chilli Sea Salt adds a fiery kick, while a sprinkle of sesame seeds provides a nutty crunch. Finished with a handful of fresh coriander, this vibrant salad is sure to impress.
Here is how to make a spicy cucumber salad
Start by cutting the cucumbers into spirals. In a similar method to Hasselback potatoes, place your cucumber between two chopsticks on your board, then use your knife to make small cuts all the way down in one direction. Next, turn the cucumber over and repeat the cuts again but in the other direction.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to spiralise the cucumbers like this, you can cut the cucumbers into a rough chucks.
Into a bowl, mix the sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, crispy chilli oil, honey, Maldon Chilli Sea Salt and toasted sesame seeds. Then toss the cucumbers throughout so they are evenly coated.
Set aside for them to absorb the flavours and oils for a minimum of 10 minutes before serving.
Scatter over the coriander leaves and serve.
We are delighted to team up with Magimix in creating falafel with a freshly chopped salad and creamy hummus for dipping. Using their iconic 4200XL Processor, we were able to make the falafel balls and hummus from scratch from the use of the machine’s multifunctional blades. With a simple press of a button, we are able to effortlessly multitask to create delicious tasting food!
This plant-friendly recipe is perfect for the warm summer months when you are craving something light to eat. The falafel themselves are made up of chickpeas and a handful of herbs. We also add 1 green chilli to introduce a gentle layer of spice to the balls. We pair these with an irresistibly creamy hummus for dipping the falafel in, along with a tasty chopped salad as well. The salad is packed full of veg and also has pomegranate seeds and molasses to introduce sweetness to the dish.
Here is how to make our Falafel with Chopped Salad & Hummus recipe…
Start by making the falafel.
Soak the chickpeas overnight, the next day drain them. Place the chickpeas in the Magimix 4200XL Food Processor along with the onion, garlic, parsley, coriander, green chilli, spices, Maldon Salt, cracked black pepper and baking powder. Pulse the mixture together until it comes together but still has a little texture – you don’t want it to be completely smooth or fine.
Tip the mixture into a large bowl and cover with clingfilm. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
While the falafel is chilling, make the hummus.
Clean out the bowl of the Magimix. Then add the chickpeas, lemon juice, crushed garlic, Maldon Salt, tahini, cumin and smoked paprika. Blend this together until it is smooth. Add a couple of tbsp of water if needed, and the EVOO. Then blitz again until you have the desired texture. Remove from the Magimix and tip into a bowl, set aside.
Make the chopped salad. In a large bowl add together all the chopped vegetables and herbs.
Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, olive oil and lemon juice in a small bowl and season with Maldon Salt and black pepper.
When you are ready to fry the falafel, remove the mix from the fridge and then use your hands to shape into small balls, just a bit smaller than a golf ball.
In a large pan, pour in enough vegetable oil so it comes up 3 inches up the side of the pan. Heat this until it reaches 180C on a thermometer.
Carefully drop the falafel into the oil and fry them for 2 – 3 minutes each until deep golden brown and crispy.
Remove from the heat and place onto a tray lined with kitchen paper. You can serve these straight away or keep them warm in a low oven if it takes a while to fry.
To serve, toss the dressing over the chopped salad and spoon onto a big platter, garnish with the pomegranate seeds.
Serve alongside the hummus and the fresh falafel. Use warmed pitta bread to pile in all three and enjoy.
You only need a handful of ingredients to make our beautifully soft and creamy potato salad, the perfect side dish for your summer BBQ’s this year!
It’s fair to say, a good potato salad always starts with using the right variety of potatoes. The best potato to use for your salads are named ‘waxy potatoes’. These are low in starch yet hold a high sugar and water content. As a result, they tend to hold their shape more when they are cooking, and are notable less grainy than more starchier potatoes, like russets or Idaho’s. Therefore, we opt in using red potatoes for our salad, as they are best for boiling and maintain their soft, fluffy centre which is ideal for making a creamy potato salad.
When boiling your potatoes, make sure to add a pinch of Maldon Salt to the water. This is vital for a well-seasoned potato salad because when the starch in the potatoes begins to warm up from boiling, they will begin to open and absorb water, causing them to loose shape. Salting the water will allow the starch cells to close off, preventing the potatoes from becoming too soft and allowing them to maintain shape with a fluffy centre.
We recommend serving your potato salad with BBQ classics, including juicy burgers, delicious smoky chicken or perhaps as a topper to ‘bulk’ up a beautiful British Salad.
Here’s how to make our creamy potato salad…
Start by placing the red skinned potatoes in a large pan and filling it with water, lightly salt it and place it on the hob.
Bring to the boil and allow the potatoes to simmer for around 5 minutes until just tender but still holding their shape.
Drain the potatoes and allow to cool.
Once the potatoes are cool, cut them into quarters or halves depending on size. Place into a large bowl and mix together with the mayonnaise, capers, chives, dill, Maldon Salt and black pepper and lemon zest. Make sure everything is well coated but try not to break up the potatoes.
Transfer the potato salad onto a serving platter and garnish with some final sprinkling of herbs and a pinch of Maldon Salt.
This can be served straight away or kept in the fridge until serving. It can stay in the fridge for up to 5-days, if stored properly and securely.
Simple yet refreshing. Our cucumber salad recipe is quick and easy to make within a matter of minutes…perfect for the summer!
When choosing your cucumber, we recommend using a seedless variety. English cucumbers are great for this as they are long, slim and hardly have any seeds. You can also opt for Persian cucumbers, however they are notably shorter in comparison to English cucumbers.
Pair this salad with summertime classics, including juicy burgers and chargrilled chicken on the BBQ for that perfect cool contrast from the warm meats.
Finely slice the cucumber. In a bowl, toss the cucumber slices with Maldon Salt and a small pinch of sugar. Let this stand for roughly 5 minutes.
Add the cucumber to a large bowl with the red onion, white wine vinegar, Maldon Salt and cracked black pepper.
Transfer onto a serving plate and garnish with dill sprigs and Maldon Salt before serving.
This salad really does showcase the flavours of spring! We build the base with deliciously crunchy baby chicory leaves, a handful of celery, fennel and thin slices of apple for a gentle hint of sweetness.
To make the dressing, we use Greek yogurt, lemon juice mint and olive oil which is then blitzed together until a strikingly vibrant green colour emerges.
Although you could leave it here, we want to add texture to this dish! Sprinkle a few candied walnuts from the use of the runny honey, and then torn burrata for a decadent, creaminess finish as your tear into the salad.
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Start by making the candied walnuts. Line a baking tray with paper and then add the walnuts. Drizzle over the runny honey and toss the walnuts so they are well coated. Sprinkle with a pinch of Maldon Salt and then place into the oven for 5 minutes until golden and sticky.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Next make the dressing. Add the yoghurt, lemon juice, mint and olive oil to a high-powered blender and blitz until it forms a lovely vibrant green dressing. Taste it and then season with Maldon Salt and some cracked black pepper.
Set aside.
Now you can assemble the salad. On a large platter arrange the chicory leaves, shaved fennel, celery, and apple matchsticks. Drizzle over the green yoghurt dressing. Then carefully tear over the burrata and top with the candied walnuts.
Finally add the reserved fennel fronds and serve.
We’ve teamed up with Honest Toil to create a delicious panzanella salad, made with grilled artichoke, crispy croutons and toasted Marcona almonds to give a hearty bite.
A panzanella is known for being a chopped Tuscan and Umbrian salad, where bread, onions and tomatoes are used as the main components for the dish. However, we add a little bit of ‘Greek’ to the dish with the addition of Honest Toil’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil as the dressing for this recipe.
Honest Toil’s oil is pressed solely from their koroneiki olives, based just south of Kyparissia on the west coast of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It gives a beautiful, fresh flavour from being unblended and properly cold-pressed – causing it to be as pure as it gets!
We incorporate the flavoursome olive oil by not only drizzling it into the salad, but by creating a mouthwateringly good salsa verde! Adding herbs of parsley, basil and mint, we build the dressing with a variety of capers, cornichons and anchovy filet to give a gentle ‘umami’ kick to the dressing.
Start by making the salsa verde. Combine the finely chopped garlic, fresh herbs, capers, anchovy, cornichon, and red chilli. Stir in the Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar and Honest Toil olive oil until you can a nice consistency – you may need to add a little more vinegar or olive oil. Add Maldon Salt and cracked black pepper and then taste and check the seasoning.
Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 180C.
To make the ciabatta croutons, tear the ciabatta bread into bite size pieces. Place onto a baking tray and drizzle with the Honest Toil olive oil. Season with Maldon Salt and some black pepper and then toss well with your hands making sure the bread is evenly coated.
Place into the preheated oven for 8 minutes, checking them halfway through, until they are golden and toasted.
Remove from the oven and set aside.
To assemble the salad, pile the freekeh onto a platter and toss with the chargrilled artichoke pieces. Then scatter over the broad beans and toasted almonds.
Drizzle across the salsa verde and finally finish with the toasted ciabatta croutons and some fresh mint leaves.
We’ve teamed up with the talented Olia Hercules to create a refreshing and zingy salad, perfect for light lunch or as a side dish to a hearty meal like spatchcock chicken.
The salad contains all the flavours that Olia enjoys! Beetroot is paired with vibrant chicory wedges and bursts of orange segments to bring a gentle sweetness to the dish. The salad is inspired by an amazing dish from Georgia called charkhali. The original dish is fantastic, and involves boiled beetroot tossed in a spicy sour plum puree, flavoured with pennyroyal mint, garlic, dill and Georgian spices. Olia goes a step further by charring the beetroot and cooking the plum sauce over fire, adding an amazing smokiness to the whole dish!
A quick pickling recipe
The pickling section of this recipe is very important to bring life to the dish. It is also very easy and quick to do in the comfort of your own home! With a combination of vinegar, honey and Maldon Salt, you need to mix the beetroot slices into the season vinegar for 15 minutes. However, if you would a stronger pickling flavour, you can leave the beetroot slice in the mixture overnight to really elevate the flavours!
Here is how to make the beetroot and chicory salad…
To boil the beetroot, simply put it whole, skin on into a pan of cold water.
Bring to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes or until a knife can pierce them quite easily.
Cut the chicory into thin wedges.
Segment the oranges (do watch a quick video online if you don’t know how to do it).
Add the vinegar, honey and the 1 tsp Maldon Salt into a large bowl, mixing well. The vinegar will help dissolve the honey and sea salt flakes. Set aside.
In the meantime, the beetroot should have cooled off by now. Begin rubbing off its skin and cut into thin slices.
Drop the beetroot slices into the seasoned vinegar. You can leave it there to pickle for as quick as 15 minutes or do this in advance and leave them macerate in vinegar overnight for a stronger flavour.
In a large bowl, add the now pickled beetroot slices. Next, begin adding the chicory wedges, orange segments, olives and onion. Give it all a good mix until everything is blended together.
Arrange on a serving plate, drizzle over oil and add the dill.
Serve immediately. If there is any leftover, you can store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
What dressing could you use for this salad?
A dressing that would pair perfect with this salad would be a vinaigrette using fruit vinegar and honey. It is very easy to make and requires very few ingredients
In a bowl, add the ingredients and mix well, ensuring everything is coated evenly.
Add a few dill fonds into the mixture.
Once finished, let it chill in the fridge for a few minutes to let the flavours infuse together.
Once your salad is assembled, drizzle the dressing over the dish generously.
