Sweet Pepper with Bacon (Rome)

Appetizers

Ingredients

Ripe tomatoes - 10 large

Lean bacon, thinly sliced - 1/2 pound

Sweet green peppers - 9

Olive oil - 4 tbsps

Onion, thinly sliced - 1

Salt and pepper

Peel the tomatoes, chop them finely and discard the seeds. Put aside until required. Cut the bacon into pieces, not too small and discard the rind.

Char the peppers under a hot broiler or in a hot oven until their skins blacken and blister. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, rub off the thin outer skin. Wash in running water and cut them in half, discarding cores and seeds. Cut the flesh into neat strips.

Heat the oil in a wide pan over a low heat and saute the onion, adding 2-3 tbsps water so that the onion will not burn but turn translucent. Add the tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes over a brisk heat. Add the peppers, salt and pepper and cook over a moderate heat for 15 minutes. Finally add the bacon. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, or until the bacon is almost transparent. Serve very hot.

Serves 6