![Southern Living Sweet and Fiery Pepper Bruschetta on a platter to serve with a glass of beer](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.southernliving.com/thmb/x3iJMHGSjiZ8UsmLJ_TaP5v8hZM=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/H27358_Sweet_And_Fiery_Pepper_Bruschetta_080-a530465adaa9474ba95b3c4aca746c3a.jpg)
Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning
We can’t get enough bruschetta in our diets. Crispy bread slathered with cheese and whatever's fresh and best of the season? Bring it on!
Fresno and serrano peppers team up with a generous glug of honey, briny capers, and splash of red wine vinegar to deliver an appetizer that your friends will request for every gathering once they taste it. We love it over goat cheese, but any soft cheese would work.
Ingredients
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5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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20 (1/3-inch-thick) diagonally cut baguette slices
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1 orange or red bell pepper, trimmed and cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups)
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2 red Fresno chiles, unseeded and thinly sliced into rings (about 1/3 cup)
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1 medium shallot, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
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1 serrano chile, unseeded and thinly sliced into rings (about 2 Tbsp.)
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2 small garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tsp.)
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1/3 cup red wine vinegar
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3 Tbsp. honey
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1/4 tsp. kosher salt
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2 Tbsp. drained nonpareil capers
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1 (4-oz.) plain goat cheese log, softened
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Brush 3 tablespoons of the oil evenly over both sides of baguette slices. Arrange slices on prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until crisp and lightly browned around edges, 10 to 12 minutes, flipping slices halfway through baking, if desired. Set aside, or store in an airtight container up to 1 day.
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Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Add bell pepper, Fresno chiles, shallot, serrano chile, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar, honey, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium until almost all liquid has evaporated and mixture is syrupy, 10 to 12 minutes.
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Remove pepper mixture from heat, and stir in capers until combined. (If making ahead, let mixture cool and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Let the mixture come to room temperature, and reheat it over medium heat in a medium saucepan, if desired.)
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Spread goat cheese evenly over one side of each baguette slice; top each with about 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper mixture.