Lighter Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipes

LIGHTENED-UP STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the tops off each pepper, reserve them and hollow out the insides of the peppers of any seeds and seed walls. Sprinkle the insides with a pinch salt and a pinch pepper and set aside.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the garlic and onions. Cook until softened, 3 minutes, and then add the beef, oregano, cinnamon and cumin. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the tomato paste until it coats the meat and is slightly darkened. Stir in the broth, rice and lentils. Remove from the heat and set aside until the liquid is absorbed and the mixture is cooled slightly. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Divide the filling among the peppers and place the tops back on. Set the peppers upright in a small baking dish, such as an 8-inch square baking dish. Whisk 1 1/2 cups water with the remaining tablespoon of tomato paste and olive oil. Pour into the dish around the peppers. Cover tightly with foil and bake until the peppers are tender and the rice and lentils are cooked through, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Carefully transfer the peppers to a serving dish and pour the cooking liquid into a medium nonstick skillet. Boil over high heat until the sauce is thickened and reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat and add the dill. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the sauce with the stuffed peppers.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the tops; set aside. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membrane as you can. Place the peppers cut-side up in a baking dish just large enough to hold them upright.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the lumps, until the meat is cooked through and just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to get rid of the fat.
• Wipe out the skillet and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onions and chopped peppers and cook until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and zucchini and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and a pinch or 2 of red pepper flakes. Cook until everything is heated through, then stir in the beef and rice. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
• Fill the peppers with the rice mixture and top each with a sprinkle of the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the baking dish and drizzle the peppers with a little olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the peppers are soft and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, another 15 to 20 minutes.

HEALTHIER STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring brown rice and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Cook and stir beef, garlic, and onion in a skillet over medium heat until meat is evenly browned and onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Remove and discard the tops, seeds, and membranes of the green, red, and yellow bell peppers. Arrange peppers in a baking dish with the hollowed sides facing upward. Slice the bottoms off the peppers if necessary so that they stand upright.
• Mix the browned beef, cooked rice, 1 can tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Spoon an equal amount of the mixture into each hollowed pepper. Mix the remaining tomato sauce and Italian seasoning in a bowl, and pour over the stuffed peppers.
• Bake in the preheated oven, basting with sauce every 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender, about 1 hour. Sprinkle the peppers with grated Parmesan cheese after baking.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS FROM COOKING LIGHT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450.
• Cook rice according to package directions. Set aside.
• While rice cooks, cut tops off peppers, discard seeds. Place peppers, cut sides down, in an 8 inch square baking dish and microwave on high for 2 minutes, or until peppers are crisp-tender. Do not overcook.
• In a large skillet, cook beef, onion, parsley, paprika, salt and allspice. Remove from heat.
• Ad rice, 1/2 cup pasta sauce, and cheese to beef mixture, stir to combine.
• While beef cooks, combine 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce and wine in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Spoon about 3/4 cup beef mixture into each pepper. Place peppers in a 2 quart baking dish coated with cooking spray, add wine mixture to pan (save some sauce to drizzle over the tops of the peppers). Cover with foil.
• Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake an additional 5 minutes or until ightly browned.

LIGHTER STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450.
• Cook rice according to pkg. Set aside.
• While rice cooks, cut tops off bell peppers; reserve tops. Discard seeds and membranes. Place peppers, cut side down in an 8" square microwave safe baking dish; cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at HIGH 2 min or til crisp-tender.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add beef and next 5 ingredients; cook 4 min or til beef is lightly browned, stirring to crumble. Remove from heat. Add rice, 1/2 c pasta sauce, and cheese to beef mixture, stirring to combine.
• While beef cooks, combine 1 1/2 c pasta sauce and wine to a boil in a small saucepan.
• Spoon about 3/4 c beef mixture into each pepper. Place peppers in a 2 quart baking dish coated with cooking spray; add sauce mixture then cover with foil.
• Bake at 450 for 20 minute Uncover; bake 5 more min or til lightly browned. Garnish with pepper tops if desired.