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Stuffed Peppers

Delicious and colorful stuffed peppers filled with a savory mixture of rice, vegetables, and cheese, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 42 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 12 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, Mediterranean
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Stuffed Peppers
  • 4 large red bell peppers Washed and tops cut off
  • 200 g white rice 1 cup
  • 350 ml water 1.5 cups
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt For the rice
  • 15 g butter 1 tablespoon
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, grated or diced
  • 250 g mushrooms, chopped About 1 cup
  • 250 g canned tomatoes, diced About 1 cup
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 chili pepper finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
  • 150 g cheddar cheese, grated 1.5 cups
  • 150 g mozzarella cheese, grated 1.5 cups
  • Fresh parsley, chopped
For the Cabbage Salad
  • 250 g cabbage, finely shredded About 2.5 cups
  • 1 medium apple, julienned or diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil Used for the salad
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice Used for the salad
  • Salt and black pepper to taste Used for the salad
For the Yogurt Sauce
  • 200 g plain yogurt About 1 cup
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil Used for the sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice Used for the sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, minced Used for the sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped Used for the sauce

Method
 

Cooking Rice
  1. In a saucepan, combine the white rice, water, turmeric, salt, and butter. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 12 minutes until the rice is cooked.
Preparing the Peppers
  1. Wash the red bell peppers and carefully cut off the tops. Remove the seeds and set them aside.
Sautéing Vegetables
  1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Then stir in the sugar, paprika, and a pinch of salt.
  2. Add the grated or diced carrot and chopped mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for about 2 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
Mixing Filling
  1. Stir in the canned tomatoes, dried basil, minced garlic, chopped chili pepper, and fresh parsley. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until everything is combined.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the cooked rice with the vegetable mixture. Add the egg, breadcrumbs, and half of the grated cheddar cheese to the bowl. Stir until well combined.
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Fill each bell pepper with the mixture. Top them with the remaining mozzarella cheese and drizzle a little olive oil over each one.
  3. Cover the stuffed peppers with foil and bake for 30 minutes. After that, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until they are golden and cheesy.
Preparing the Cabbage Salad
  1. In a bowl, mix together the shredded cabbage, julienned apple, and chopped spring onions. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.
Making the Yogurt Sauce
  1. In a separate bowl, combine the plain yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped dill, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
Serving
  1. Let the stuffed peppers rest for 5 minutes after baking. Garnish them with fresh parsley, and serve with the cabbage salad and yogurt sauce on the side.

Notes

Consider adding ground chicken or turkey for extra protein. For heat, use more chili pepper or chili flakes. Experiment with different cheeses like feta or gouda for variety.