roasted sweet bell pepper salad

Directions

1. Light the charcoal in your outside grill using a charcoal chimney or other non-chemical lighting option and let it burn until the charcoal starts to turn to ash on the outside (approximately 15-20 minutes or so.) Create a hot and cool zone by shifting the burning charcoal around allowing you to control the heat levels as you roast the peppers. Place the washed and dried sweet bell peppers right on the grill and leave them uncovered and untouched.
2. Let the peppers roast and you will start to see the skin turn dark and eventually black and ashen in color. Turn the peppers as they start to blacken so all sides are reaching the heat of the coals and once the skin blackened over most of the pepper, remove from the heat and place into a large brown paper bag.
3. This will help the skin removal process as the moisture loosens the skin a bit. Using a covered space or table (try newspapers or paper towel) start to peel the skin off the pepper and break into the pepper and remove the stem, inner ribs and all the seeds. Lay the clean sections on clean towels and once all are peeled and prepared, you can begin to assemble this salad.
4. In a large bowl, tear the roasted peppers by hand into small strips and then add the chopped celery stalks and leaves and the sliced garlic clove.
5. Add a good drizzle of excellent quality olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Mix this well, being sure to coat all the peppers with the oil before setting aside to rest. You can serve this immediately at room temperature or place in the refrigerator to cool. When ready to serve, remove from the refrigerator about 15 to 20 minutes before serving so the salad warms up for better flavor and consistency.
6. This salad will keep well in a sealed container in the refrigerator for days. This refreshing, bright salad makes a great addition at family barbecues, picnics and neighborhood potluck summer gatherings.
7. Note: My famiglia In Italy uses the traditional method for in the roasting process which is to remove the metal grate and set the peppers directly on top of the hot coals achieving maximum burn and flavor. Try this for yourself and see what method you prefer.