Couscous Stuffed Bell Peppers For The Barbecue Vegetarian Recipes

HEALTHY VEGETABLE AND COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut off the very tops of the peppers. Remove and discard the ribs and seeds and set the peppers aside.
• Drain the tomatoes in a colander set over a medium bowl. Reserve the juice and set the tomatoes aside over a plate to catch any residual juices. Stir the couscous, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper into the tomato juice and set aside while preparing the filling.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, zucchini, half the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened and just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to high, stir in the couscous mixture and simmer rapidly, stirring frequently, until the couscous is just al dente and the liquid is beginning to thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook, adjusting the heat if necessary, until the leaves are bright green and just beginning to wilt, about 30 seconds. Set the filling aside to cool slightly.
• To make the sauce, combine the remaining garlic and olive oil in a Dutch oven, add the chile flakes if using and stir to combine. Place the pot over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally at first then more frequently as the oil starts to sizzle to prevent the garlic from burning, until the garlic starts to stick to the edge of the spoon and is just beginning to turn a very pale straw color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved drained tomatoes plus any accumulated juices, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture just begins to come together and thicken, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Fold the feta and basil into the couscous filling. Fill a pepper with about 3/4 cup of the filling, scooping it in loosely and shaking the pepper to level the filling rather than packing it down. Nestle the filled pepper in the sauce in the pot, then repeat with the remaining peppers, propping them up against each other and the sides of the pot for stability during baking.
• Cover the pot and bake until the peppers are tender but not mushy and the sauce is bubbling, 45 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes to see if the peppers are tender but not soft or they will be overcooked and mushy. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature with a generous scoop of the tomato sauce.

GRILLED VEGETARIAN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high. Drizzle peppers with 2 tablespoons oil. Grill, turning once, until charred in spots, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons oil, shallots, and a pinch of salt in a large cast-iron skillet; place on grill. Cook, stirring often, until shallots soften, 5 minutes. Add tomato and raisins; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add couscous and 1 1/2 cups water; season with salt and ground pepper. Simmer, stirring, until water has evaporated, about 4 minutes; remove from heat. Transfer mixture to a bowl; let cool slightly, then stir in mint, cheese, and egg. Season insides of peppers with salt and ground pepper; place in skillet. Divide fill- ing among peppers; return skillet to grill. Cover and cook until filling binds, 5 minutes. Serve, drizzled with oil, alongside greens.

COUSCOUS STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F/180C/gas mark 4.
• Place couscous in a shallow dish and cover with 300ml of boiling water; cover the dish with clingfilm and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Cut 'lids' off the tops off the peppers and scrape the seeds out from inside; place the peppers and their lids in a large saucepan and cover with boiling water; cook the peppers for 5 minutes, drain and set aside to cool.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the cumin seeds, coriander and cayenne pepper and fry for a few seconds before adding the onion and garlic; fry gently for 3-5 minutes until the onion is transparent.
• Add the tomatoes, chickpeas and green beans, stir to mix and fry for a further 2-3 minutes; stir in the couscous and remove from the heat.
• Stand the peppers up in a shallow dish, fill the pepper cavities with couscous mix, put on their lids; bake for about 35-40 minutes.

COUSCOUS STUFFED BELL PEPPERS FOR THE BARBECUE (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Cut the peppers in half, and remove the seeds, and white membrane. Be careful not to remove the stalk from the top half of the peppers.
• Put the cous cous in a large bowl, and sprinkle the coriander, rosemary, turmeric, paprika, cinammon, and stock powder over it.
• Pour in enough boiling water to cover the cous cous, give it a quick stir with a fork, and cover the bowl with a plate.
• Fry the onion and celery in butter, with the garlic, until the onion is translucent.
• Remove the cover from the bowl of cous cous, and stir it with a fork, being careful not to mash it.
• Add the onion, celery, mushrooms, jalapeno, parsley, and cheese, and stir it through the cous cous.
• Add salt and pepper, to taste.
• Stuff the pepper halves with the cous cous mixture, then wrap them in aluminium foil.
• Cook them on a hot barbecue for 15 - 20 minutes, turning 3 or 4 times, until the pepper starts to become soft.
• They are now ready to serve. Note that if you are using small peppers, instead of cutting them in half, you can cut the tops off instead, then serve them with the tops covering them like a lid.

COUSCOUS-STUFFED PEPPERS FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1 cup spaghetti sauce, kidney beans, couscous, Roma tomatoes, and cabbage; simmer until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese into the skillet. Spoon mixture into the bell peppers.
• Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a small casserole dish. Place stuffed peppers into the dish; cover with remaining 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce.
• Bake in the preheated oven until peppers are tender, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese over peppers. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.