Pepperoni Ripieni is an authentic and delicious meal for anyone to enjoy.

Sicilian Jews were among the first people in Italy to adopt foods brought to Europe by Spanish explorers returning from the New World—like tomatoes and peppers. When Spanish rule of Sicily in the late 1400s forced Jews north into central and northern Italy, they carried their food traditions and preparations with them. Many Italians regarded these new foods with suspicion or disdain, calling eggplants “vile” and dismissing peppers as “poor man’s food.” But, of course, eventually they came around.

Peppers became welcome in many recipes, but one prized by Sephardic Jews was stuffed peppers. That hollow core and box-like structure just called out for a filling. Meat and grains were common fillings, and in Italy, cheese fillings were especially prized. Interestingly, even after peppers became popular across Europe, Ashkenazic Jews didn’t wholeheartedly adopt peppers into their cooking—except for stuffed peppers. Jewish families prepared them for everyday meals and also the fall festival of Sukkot, because stuffed foods symbolize abundance and a good harvest.

One Jewish-Italian version, featured in Joyce Goldstein’s Cucina Ebraica, calls for stuffing peppers with eggplant. The dish not only captures summer’s bounty at its best, but also celebrates in one beautiful package the culinary contributions of Italy’s Jews. The traditional filling is fried, but I prefer the texture and flavor of char-roasting the eggplant and pureeing it with roasted garlic and a squeeze of lemon. This method recalls the beloved Middle Eastern eggplant dip baba ghanoush, sometimes called “poor man’s caviar”—fitting in this recipe that showcases foods that were once scorned by many. Here the mixture gets a strong herbal boost from basil, salty depth from Parmigiano-Reggiano and body from panko or breadcrumbs.

A beautiful package of Italian garden flavors, these peppers feature a smooth basil-spiked eggplant filling elegantly draped with melty, creamy cheese and a bite of tomato. Use the time when the eggplants are broiling to prep all the remaining ingredients and your baking dish. Inspired by a recipe by Joyce Goldstein in Cucina Ebraica for Pepperoni Ripieni.