Everything Bagel Shishito Peppers

Lately all I’ve been doing is snacking, and the struggle is real because it‘s so easy to just go in the cupboard and open that bag of chips. So I’ve been looking into ways to snack better - that can be hummus and veggies, or even a simple bowl of steamed edamame - but even that can be a bit boring sometimes.

So I’m here to add a bit of spice to your life! I’ve come to really enjoy shishito peppers - and those who know me, KNOW how I am with spice - I’m a big baby. I can’t handle it well. But.... I can handle mild spice, and I can handle some spice better than others. So shishito peppers have become a delicious snack and dangerous play of Russian Roulette when it comes to those sneaky spicy peppers!

For those who don’t know, shishito peppers have great flavour, are usually a bit sweet and they have a thinner skin and flesh than most peppers. Though most of them are mild in spice, you get a sneaky 1 out of 10 peppers that well.... slap you in the face - and for me, could probably make me cry - but hey, all in good fun!

On top of that, I’ve hopped onto the Everything Bagel Seasoning bandwagon and I can tell you that I’m obsessed. We don’t have Trader Joe’s here in Canada and I can officially tell you that disappointing truth, but thank goodness you can make your own Everything but the Bagel seasoning at home! Add that to some blistered shishito peppers and you get a bowl of deliciousness! This is also a great vegan and gluten-free snack if you just use oil to cook them!

Mind you, I totally forgot that I had these tucked away in my fridge so a few of them started to change colour, but they were yummy nontheless!

All on their own, the Everything Bagel Shishito Peps are packed with flavour and are already a great snack, but add a delicious dip and your tastebuds are gonna thank you for it.

I‘m not entirely sure what to call this dip, but it’s a great addition to not just shishitos, but anything you want to dip - veggies, calamari, fries, chips! If you like a chipotle aioli or sriracha mayo, you’re gonna love it!

Cooking the Shishitos:

Cooking these bad boys are very simple, and you don’t really need a recipe.

Heat a skillet on medium high heat until slightly smoking. Add oil or butter, then add the shishitos. Stir and toss them occasionally until blistered. Remove pan from heat, then add 1 tbsp. of the everything bagel seasoning (see how to make your own below) and stir for 1 minute until fragrant. Cool slightly then serve.

To make the dipping sauce:

Okay this one might need a bit of arm work but trust me, it’s worth it!

Simply mix together:

½ cup mayonnaise

1 ½ tbsp ketchup

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp smoked paprika

2 tsp worcestershire sauce

2 tsp hot sauce

1 tsp dijon mustard

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

Okay maybe I lied about how hard it was to make, but pulling all those ingredients is a bit of a task! But hey, let me tell you, the flavour of this dip is out of this world! It pretty much goes with anything and turns the flavour up by 100!

Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning:

Stir together 1 tablespoon each:

Dried onion flakes

Dried garlic flakes

Toasted sesame seeds (black, or white, or a mix of both)

Poppy seeds

Flaked sea salt