Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe: A Flavorful Meal for Busy Weeknights

Looking for a delicious and nutritious meal that can be prepared quickly and easily? Stuffed bell peppers may just become your new favorite go-to dinner. These colorful vegetables are filled with various ingredients like rice, ground meat (or vegetarian options), and cheese to create a satisfying and comforting dish.

For this recipe, you will need:

1. 2 large bell peppers
2. 1 cup of uncooked long-grain white or brown rice
3. 1 pound of ground beef (or use ground turkey for less fat)
4. 1 small onion, finely chopped
5. 3 cloves garlic, minced
6. 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
7. 1 teaspoon of paprika
8. 1/2 teaspoon of salt
9. 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
10. 1 1/2 cups of water or beef broth
11. Cheese, grated (optional)

Cooking time: Approximately 35 minutes; Servings: 4 generous portions.

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Rice and Vegetables:

In a medium saucepan, bring the water or beef broth to a boil. Add in the rice and stir well. Reduce heat immediately after boiling and let it simmer on low for about 15 minutes until all of the liquid is absorbed. Once done, remove from heat.

While the rice cooks, finely chop the onion and mince garlic. In a frying pan over medium-high heat, add some oil or butter. Sauté the onions and garlic until they become translucent and slightly golden. Stir in ground meat and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.

Once the meat is fully cooked, remove from stove top; combine with previously prepared rice along with oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Let this mixture cool slightly before proceeding to assembling stuffed peppers.

Step 2: Preparing the Bell Peppers:

Clean each bell pepper thoroughly under running water. Cut off tops of peppers (save them) and remove seeds and membranes from inside. Stuff each pepper with your rice-meat mixture, packing it down firmly but not too tightly.

Step 3: Baking:

Preheat oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange stuffed bell peppers in a baking dish (preferably one that fits all four pieces snugly). Pour any remaining meat rice mix into the bottom of the baking dish to prevent sticking.

Bake for around 25 minutes until bell peppers are tender and heated through. During this time, cheese can be sprinkled over stuffed peppers if desired; just note extra baking time may be needed when adding cheese.

Step 4: Serve:

Serve hot with some crusty bread or salad on the side! This dish pairs wonderfully well with a simple green salad for added freshness and crunch.

Enjoy your perfectly stuffed bell peppers, perfect for a busy night when you want something that tastes as good as it looks!

Tips & Variations:

• To make the dish more vegetarian-friendly, replace ground beef with extra-firm tofu or use a plant-based substitute like Beyond Meat.
• If you're looking to add some heat, consider sprinkling a bit of chili powder or cayenne into your rice-meat mixture.
• For additional flavor complexity, incorporate other vegetables such as zucchini or carrots into the stuffing mix.

<

p>Stuffed bell peppers offer an easy yet impressive addition to any dinner menu. Whether you're seeking a quick weeknight meal or want something special for guests, these flavorful peppers provide a delightful solution. Try them out soon and enjoy their versatility and taste!