Grilled Padrón Peppers

Padrón peppers, known as pimientos de Padrón, originate from Galicia, Spain. These small and slightly sweet peppers are generally mild, but one in every handful will be surprisingly spicy. They’re usually deep-fried, but grilling is a healthy and quick preparation that adds a smoky layer of flavor. Serve these tapas style as a prelude to grilled paella and sangría for the ultimate Spanish feast.

What to buy: Padrón peppers are harvested in the summer months. Look for them in gourmet grocery stores or farmers’ markets, or order them online.

Sprinkling coarse sea salt over the grilled peppers gives a nice crunch and burst of flavor. We like fleur de sel or Maldon salt. Both can be found at gourmet grocery stores.

This recipe was featured as one of our Fast and Easy Grilled Vegetable Sides.