ROASTED POTATO, GARLIC, AND RED PEPPER SALAD

Roasted Potato, Garlic, and Red Pepper Salad image

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
3 pounds small boiling potatoes (white, red, or fingerling)
2 red bell peppers
3 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup small fresh basil leaves
Suggested additions: olives, pine nuts, goat cheese, grilled chicken, tuna, or prosciutto

Steps:

Preheat oven to 450° F.
Wrap garlic cloves together in foil. Halve potatoes and cut bell peppers into 1/2-inch pieces. In a large bowl toss potatoes, bell peppers, and 3 tablespoons oil with salt and pepper to taste. Arrange potatoes and bell peppers in one layer in 2 large shallow baking pans and roast in middle and lower thirds of oven (simultaneously, roast wrapped garlic on either rack), stirring occasionally and switching position of pans halfway through roasting time, until potatoes are tender and golden brown, about 35 minutes.
In a bowl immediately toss potatoes and peppers with 2 tablespoons vinegar and cool. Remove garlic from foil and squeeze pulp into a small bowl. With a fork mash garlic with remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and tablespoon vinegar and toss together with potatoes and peppers and salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, add basil. Serve potato salad at room temperature.