Stuffed Bell Peppers Classic Ukrainian Recipes

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.

CLASSIC STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers and discard; remove seeds. In a large saucepan, cook peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water., In a bowl, combine the egg, 1/4 cup of the spaghetti sauce, rice, onion, salt, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well. Stuff into peppers. Place in an ungreased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over peppers. Cover and bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.

CLASSIC STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut thin slice from stem end of each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse. Place peppers, with tops, upright in ungreased 9x12 inch glass baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave until hot, 3 to 4 minutes--(note: do NOT cook peppers until done, you are just blanching them, 3 to 4 minutes should be plenty, depending on the size of your peppers). Proceed to finish cooking in microwave OR in oven (see following instructions).
• OVEN METHOD: Cook and stir hamburger and onion until hamburger is light brown; drain if necessary. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, cooked rice, corn (if using), and 1 cup of the tomato sauce; heat through.
• Stuff each pepper with hamburger mixture; stand upright in ungreased baking dish, 9x12 inches. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. Replace tops (stem ends) on peppers. Cover with foil; cook in 350 degree F oven 45 minutes. Uncover; cook 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• -OR-.
• MICROWAVE METHOD: (This is a good technique in warm weather, when you don't want to heat up your kitchen!): Mix cooked rice, uncooked hamburger, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, corn, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Stuff each pepper with about 1/2 cup of the hamburger mixture. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. Replace tops on peppers. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave 7 minutes on HIGH. Turn plate; microwave until mixture is done, 7 to 8 minutes longer. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Serve with grated Parmesan cheese at the table. Makes 6 servings.