If we didn't manage to dry red peppers for stuffing in the summer, we might as well do it in the colder weather for about 30 days.
The process of drying peppers at home is a two-step process, not difficult, requires a little time, but you will have a preparation for delicious stuffed dried peppers!
The main thing you need to do is to choose 10-15 healthy and fleshy peppers, actually the number of peppers is up to you, they should not be damaged and with cuts on the surface because they are likely to tear when drying and they won't keep whole and that's very unpleasant when we fill them and the stuffing leaks out.
So let's proceed to the first stage:
Wash the peppers before cleaning them and dry them well.
Carve out the peppers and remove the stems, seeds and veins.
Turn the oven on low heat. Place the peppers, hole side down, on a grill rack in the middle of the oven. In case they can't stay upright and fall, you can prop them up by bringing their tips closer together.
In order not to stain the oven from the juice that will flow from the peppers, place a pan on a lower level of the oven, i.e. there should be space between the grill rack and the pan for heat circulation.
Arranged in such a way that the opening of the peppers is facing down allows the heat to penetrate inside the peppers and the drying process will be more efficient.
Dry the peppers for about 30-40 minutes, periodically checking that they do not burn or toast. The heat should be very low.
Turn off the heat and leave the peppers in the oven until they cool completely.
Let them rest for about half an hour and repeat the procedure again - at least 2-3 times.
Depending on your time, the first stage of oven drying can be done in one day or continued the next day, but provided that you have removed the peppers from the oven and placed them in a cool and airy place - not in refrigerator.
An indicator of whether you need to stop oven drying is by checking that the fleshy part is dry, not sticky, if juicy, continue drying them in the oven.
The check should be done when the peppers have completely cool, otherwise you can be fooled.
Second stage of drying red peppers
When they are almost ready - dried, continue drying in the following way:
Take the colander, turn it upside down. Insert wooden skewers with the pointed end into the holes of the colander and secure the peppers so that the wooden skewer is inserted into the narrow part of the pepper and the wide part of the pepper is facing down.
Leave the colander with the peppers in a well-ventilated place in the kitchen or in another room away from direct sunlight and moisture.
You can stick the wooden skewers on a cardboard box or a styrofoam board, and in order not to make your interior not as pleasant looking, wrap it in gift wrap.
Do not put the peppers in a bag or in a cupboard, let them air out, they will not dry out. Do not squeeze them, they may break.
Before you cook the dried peppers, soak them in warm water for a few minutes, then you can stuff them with your choice of stuffing.
This is a great method to dry peppers at home! See also the standard method of drying peppers.
Now, diversify your menu with one of these recipes for stuffed dried peppers.
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