See more RECIPES

Piperade recipe - Food and recipes of France

Piperade is definitely a southern France / Basque speciality, relying on the excesses of tomatoes and peppers in the region.

Finely sliced onion

3-4 Peppers - mix of red and green, at least one of each, chopped into quite large pieces

3-4 large ripe tomatoes - peeled (put them in hot water for a moment to make this easy) and chopped. Deseeded preferably.

Fresh chilli, according to taste and hotness wanted.

2 cloves garlic (chopped)

thyme / bayleaf (fresh preferably!)

4 eggs, beaten

Method

• Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan. Gently cook the onion until it is soft.
• Add the peppers, and cook gently for 10 minutes.
• Now add the tomatoes, garlic, chilli and herbs, and continue to cook until it is pretty mushy.
• Add the beaten eggs to the mixture and cook exactly as with scrambled eggs - i.e. remove from the heat when they start to thicken / solidify.
• Serve with a slice of grilled gammon (ideally Jambon de Bayonne) placed on top.
• Of course I hardly need say that if you don't have ham, bread will make a fine substitute.

Return to main Recipes from France page