Stuffed Peppers With Bulgur Walnut Pilaf Recipes

BULGUR-STUFFED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the bulgur in a heatproof bowl. In a sauce pan, bring the chicken broth and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. When the liquid has come to a boil, pour over the bulgur. Let sit until the bulgur absorbs the liquid, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prep the vegetables: Cut off the top third of the bell peppers. Remove the seeds and ribs leaving a 'cup' for the stuffing. Dice the flesh from the top 1/3 and reserve. Cut a 1/3 of the zucchini lengthwise to reveal the seeds. Scoop out the seeds to create a boat. Dice the remaining 1/3 pieces. Slice the tomatoes in half and scoop out the seeds to create a cup.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sweat until translucent. Add the reserved chopped peppers, squash, mushrooms, and garlic to the pan. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the cooked vegetables, if necessary, and add to the cooked bulgur.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper on the inside of the vegetable 'cups.' Stuff the vegetables with the bulgur mixture, place in a shallow baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, then bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and melted.

STUFFED SWEET PEPPERS WITH TUNA, BULGUR AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss peppers with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Roast, stirring once or twice, until peppers are tender, 15 to 22 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, in a medium pot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add bulgur and toast, stirring, until it smells nutty, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste, cumin and 1 teaspoon salt, and sauté until tomato paste darkens, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in stock or water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until bulgur is soft all the way through, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain off any remaining liquid and set aside to cool.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and heat until shimmering. Add celery and sauté until just beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add onion, green bell pepper, jalapeño, garlic and anchovies (if using). Sauté until vegetables are just tender but not soft (a little texture is welcome), 4 to 6 minutes. If mixture begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, add a tablespoon or two of water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.
• Put tuna in a large bowl and use a fork to break into chunks. Add remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons oil, mayonnaise (or yogurt) and lemon juice and mash until tuna is broken into small flakes. Mix in onion-celery mixture, bulgur, herbs and capers and stir well. Taste and add more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice as needed.
• Make a slit lengthwise down each pepper to open it up. Stuff the bulgur mixture into the open peppers, then pinch the peppers so that the stuffing holds the two sides together. (It's O.K. if the peppers aren't completely closed.) Arrange on a platter, sprinkle with lemon juice and garnish with herbs. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

STUFFED PEPPERS WITH PILAF

Steps:

• Cut around the stems of the peppers (reserving the stem caps), remove the seeds, wash and drain the peppers. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan, add the onions and pine nuts and saute until onions are soft and golden, 10 to 15 minutes, seasoning with salt to taste. Add the rice, and saute for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook a minute longer, then add the currants, mint, sugar and nutmeg. Add the hot water and lemon juice, adjust seasonings, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until all the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rice stand for 5 to 10 minutes to cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Stuff the peppers loosely with the rice mixture, and close them with the reserved caps. Place stuffed peppers side by side in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Add a little water to the baking dish, cover and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until peppers are tender and rice is fully cooked, adding more water to dish if needed. Squeeze lemon juice over the peppers and serve warm or room temperature with remaining lemon wedges.

BULGUR PILAF WITH DATES, DRIED APRICOTS, AND TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Add bulgur and sauté 5 minutes. Stir in dates, apricots, cinnamon stick, and curry powder. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until bulgur is tender and broth is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Stir in green onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer pilaf to bowl. Sprinkle with walnuts and serve.
• Bulgur, or cracked wheat, is available at natural foods stores and supermarkets.

BULGUR-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°. Cut each bell pepper lengthwise in half; remove seeds and membranes. Heat 2 inches water to boiling in 2-quart saucepan. Add pepper halves. Cook uncovered 1 minute; drain.
• Melt margarine in same saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook celery and 3 tablespoons of the onions in margarine about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender.
• Stir in bulgur, 1 1/2 cups of the broth and the seasoning salt. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 6 to 7 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in 3/4 cup of the cheese.
• Fill bell pepper halves with bulgur mixture. Place peppers, filled sides up, in ungreased square pan, 8x8x2 inches. Pour remaining broth into pan. Cover and bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon onion.

PORK & BULGUR-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Put the peppers, cut-side down, on a plate and microwave on High for 4 mins until cooked through (but not so soft they collapse). If they need longer, microwave for 1 min more and repeat until done.
• Put the pork in a cold frying pan and turn on the heat. Fry, breaking up any lumps, until it starts to brown. Stir in the garlic and spices for 1 min, then add the bulgur and stock. Cover and simmer for 10 mins until the bulgur is soft.
• Heat the grill. Stir half the parsley into the bulgur, then stuff into the peppers on a baking tray. Grill to crisp, sprinkle over most of the parsley, then serve with the yogurt mixed with remaining parsley.

BULGUR PILAF WITH RED PEPPERS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place the bulgur in a fine sieve and shake to remove any dust. Place in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the bell and chili peppers in a food processor with the water, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the sugar. Process until pureed. Transfer to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until reduced to a jam-like consistency, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Cut the tomatoes in half and squeeze gently to remove the seeds. Using the large holes of a hand grater, grate the tomato halves with the cut side facing the grater. (You should be left with just the tomato skin in your hand; discard.)
• Drain the bulgur and return it to the bowl. Add the red-pepper paste, the tomato pulp, the remaining teaspoon salt, the scallions, cucumber, parsley, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, olive oil and paprika. Stir to mix well.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Spoon onto a platter, surround with the lettuce or vine leaves and serve.

ROASTED BELL PEPPER HALVES STUFFED WITH BULGUR AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Cut large red and yellow bell peppers in half through stem end. Remove seeds and cut out ribs, leaving stems intact. Finely chop small red bell pepper; set aside. Spread 1 tablespoon oil over rimmed baking sheet. Place pepper halves, cut side down, on prepared sheet. Roast 15 minutes. Turn over; roast until slightly softened, about 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven.
• Meanwhile, bring 2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan; add bulgur and 1 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand until bulgur is tender, about 30 minutes. Drain well.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped red pepper; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Add currants and pine nuts; sauté 2 minutes. Add cumin; stir 20 seconds. Mix in spinach; stir until beginning to wilt, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in bulgur, mint, and dill. Stir in half of cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Divide bulgur mixture among pepper halves. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake stuffed peppers until heated through, about 25 minutes (or 30 minutes if chilled); serve.
• *Also called cracked wheat; available at natural foods stores and supermarkets.