Stuffed Peppers

Here’s a recipe for Stuffed Peppers:

Ingredients

• Large peppers: 4 (red, yellow, or green)
• Ground meat (beef, pork or a combination): 300 g
• Onion: 1 medium, chopped
• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
• Cooked rice or couscous: 200 g
• Peeled tomatoes or tomato sauce: 200 ml
• Grated cheese (Parmesan, Pecorino, Mozzarella, or a combination): 100 g
• Extra virgin olive oil: as needed
• Salt and pepper: as needed
• Chopped herbs of choice (basil, parsley, thyme): as needed

Preparation

1. Prepare the Peppers: Wash the peppers, cut off the top (reserve it) and remove the seeds and internal membranes. If necessary, trim the bottom to make them stand up.

2. Prepare the Filling: In a pan, heat some oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent. Add the ground meat, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the meat is no longer pink.

3. Add Rice and Tomatoes: Incorporate the cooked rice or couscous and peeled tomatoes into the pan. Cook for a few minutes, then adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. You can also add chopped herbs.

4. Fill the Peppers: Stuff each pepper with the meat and rice mixture. Sprinkle with grated cheese.

5. Cook the Peppers: Place the peppers in a lightly greased baking dish. Top with their “hat” cut off earlier. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 30-40 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is golden.

6. Serve: Let the peppers rest for a few minutes before serving.

Variations:

• Vegetarian: Replace the meat with quinoa, lentils, or a mix of chopped vegetables.
• Spicy: Add chopped chili or chili flakes to the filling.

Stuffed peppers are a colorful and tasty dish that can be adapted based on your preferences. Enjoy your meal!