The Surprised Gourmet

Stuffed Bell Peppers are delicious and easy to fix

There’s just something about ’em … taste buds love Stuffed Bell Peppers. I’m not sure if it’s their delicious taste, their appearance or just the fact they’re not that complicated to prepare.

Either way, Stuffed Bell Peppers can serve as a side dish or as the main meal. That makes them double handy.

I cut the tops off of 3 bell peppers and removed the excess membrane and ribs.  Be sure to put the bell pepper in a pan of water to parboil before making stuffed peppers otherwise the pepper will still be a bit crisp and not easily cut with a fork. Make sure the peppers are covered by water and boil for 5 minutes, drain and set aside.

Tasty filling goes into the bell pepper

I took the bell pepper  tops and minced finely. I put my skillet on medium heat, added 2 tablespoons of Canola oil and added ¾ cup minced bell pepper and sauté for 3 minutes. Next I added ¼ cup minced onions and 1 tablespoon dried parsley and sautéed another 2 minutes. Last I added 1 tablespoon minced garlic and sautéed for about 30 seconds more. You have to be sure to keep stirring this so you don’t let it burn, especially when the garlic is added. I turned off heat.

I added 1 can (14.5 ounces, about 1 ½ cups) petit diced tomatoes to the mixture. I didn’t drain the tomatoes because the rice I’ll add soon will absorb the extra liquid. I turned the skillet on to simmer.

Next I added ½ tablespoon of fresh homemade dried oregano (you can use bought dried herbs) and ½ tablespoon of fresh homemade dried basil to the mix. I continued to stir and let the mixture simmer. I added 1 ½ cups of cooked rice (I used instant rice). The rice marries with all the flavors and absorb the liquids. Next I added 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ground kosher salt, a ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper and 2 cups cooked ground pork.

The cooked ground pork was 4 leftover cooked boneless pork chops that I sliced and put into the food processor. I used 2 cups of the pork for the stuffing and still had another 2 cups left to use in another dish later.

I continued to stir as the mixture simmered for about 7 to 10 more minutes.

Stuffed Bell Peppers ready for the oven

Removing the mixture from the stove, I placed it in a large bowl. Even though this is a stuffing mixture I concocted for the stuffed bell peppers, you could stop at this stage (add the cheese, if desired) and eat it as it is. It would go good on a bed of spinach. Just don’t add the eggs if you’re not going to cook it any further.

I added ½ cup Kraft shredded mild cheddar cheese and 2 large eggs (beaten) into the mixture. Once the mixture was blended thoroughly, I spooned it into the bell peppers. There was enough stuffing for 4 large bell peppers. I placed the peppers in casserole dish and baked them for 45 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven.

These aromatic Stuffed Bell Peppers are delicious and easy to prepare. The stuffing is moist and flavorful.

Thanks for visiting today. If you decide to try this recipe, be sure to stop back by and let me know how it turned out or if you post it online just tag it with #thesurprisedgourmet. I’d sure like to know how it turned out.

Cucina Felice!

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Stuffed Bell Peppers

Prep time:  15 mins

Cook time:  1 hour 5 mins

Total time:  1 hour 20 mins

Serves: 4 servings

Stuffed Bell Peppers make a delicious side dish or a savory main meal.

Ingredients

• 3 Bell Peppers
• 2 Tablespoons Canola oil
• ¾ Cup minced bell pepper
• ¼ Cup minced onion
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) petit diced tomatoes
• ½ Tablespoon dried oregano
• ½ Tablespoon dried basil
• 1 ½ Cups cooked rice
• 1 ½ Teaspoons fresh ground kosher salt
• ¼ Teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 Cups ground pork
• ½ Cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
• 2 Large eggs, beaten

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut tops off the 3 bell peppers and remove the excess membrane and ribs. Put the bell pepper in a pan of water making sure the peppers are covered by water. Boil for 5 minutes, drain and set aside.
3. Take the tops of the peppers and mince finely. Turn skillet on medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of Canola oil. Put in ¾ cup minced bell pepper and sauté for 3 minutes, add ¼ cup minced onions and 1 tablespoon dried parsley sauté another 2 minutes and add 1 tablespoon minced garlic sauté for about 30 seconds more. Be sure to keep stirring this so you don’t let it burn, especially when the garlic is added. Turn off heat.
4. Add 1 can (14.5 ounces, about 1 ½ cups) petit diced tomatoes to the mixture. Don’t drain the tomatoes. Now turn the skillet on to simmer.
5. Add ½ tablespoon of dried oregano and ½ tablespoon of dried basil to the mix. Continue to stir and let simmer. Add 1 ½ cup of cooked rice (can use instant, regular or steamed rice). The rice marries with all the flavors and absorbs the liquids. Add 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ground kosher salt and a ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper. Add 2 cups cooked ground pork.* Continue to stir as the mixture simmers for about 7 to 10 more minutes. **
6. Remove mixture from pan, put in large bowl. Add ½ cup Kraft shredded mild cheddar cheese and 2 beaten large eggs into the mixture. Once the mixture is blended thoroughly, spoon into the bell peppers. Should stuff about 4 large bell peppers. Place in casserole dish and bake 45 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven.
7. *Ground pork can be made from 4 cooked boneless pork chops that have been sliced and put into the food processor. There will be more than 2 cups of the ground pork after placed in the food processor.
8. **Even though this is a stuffing mixture concocted for the stuffed bell peppers, you could stop at this stage before you add the eggs and eat it as it is. It would go good on a bed of spinach.

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