Felicitys Chicken Stuffed Red Bell Peppers Food

THE BEST STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• If your peppers don't sit upright on your cutting board, trim about 1/8-inch off the bottoms to even them out so they can stand without falling over. Cut the top off each pepper about 1/2-inch down. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the remaining flesh from the tops. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membranes as you can. Place the peppers in a large microwave-safe bowl with 1/2 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high power for 12 minutes. Carefully uncover and let them sit until ready to assemble.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the beef in an even layer and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps with the back of a spoon and scraping up any browned bits from the pan until the meat is lightly browned all over, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the browned meat to a large bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and add the reserved chopped peppers, onions, garlic, thyme, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until falling apart and much of the liquid has evaporated, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly until brick red colored, about 1 minute. Stir in the wine and cook until the mixture is reduced, very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Transfer to the bowl with the beef. Stir in the rice until completely combined. (The mixture will be wet.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Place the peppers cut-side up in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Spoon the filling into the peppers, gently pressing it in with the back of a spoon. Be careful not to overstuff and split the sides of the peppers. Bake for 15 minutes. Then top with the cheese and continue baking until the filling is heated through and the cheese is browned in spots, 10 to 12 minutes.

CROCK POT CHICKEN STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Slice the top off each pepper- save the tops, snap off the stem.
• Remove seeds& membranes from peppers, do not puncture the bottoms.
• Saute the chicken in an oil sprayed no stick skillet for 5 minutes, remove from the pan Saute Onion until transparent (approx 5 min).
• Add corn, pine nuts, cumin, chili flakes, salt& pepper.
• Return chicken to pan, add rice& chopped tomato.
• Fill the peppers and place in the crock pot.
• Sit each pepper on one of the saved pepper tops Pour the chicken broth around the peppers.
• Turn on low for approx 5 hours- Try not to lift the lid until near the end.
• If the broth has evaporated add a bit more or just add plain water.

FELICITY'S CHICKEN STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut the top off the peppers and remove the insides.
• Chop onion, carrot, celery and garlic very finely.
• (I use a food processor) Cook vegetables in butter until soft.
• Combine vegetables, rice, chicken and cheese.
• Season to taste.
• Fill peppers with this mixture, pressing down as you go to ensure they are well stuffed.
• Place peppers in a covered casserole and cook in a 180c oven until peppers are soft, approximately 60-90minutes.
• To speed the cooking process, microwave the peppers for a couple of minutes before filling.
• Once they are soft, sprinkle with additional cheese and broil until tops are golden.
• Serve hot or warm as a side dish, appetiser or light lunch.

STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH RICE, PINE NUTS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• Heat 3 T olive oil in a saute pan, add onions and saute over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add rice and pine nuts and stir 5 minutes over low heat. Add currants, tomatoes, mint, allspice, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes.
• Add 1 1/4 cups broth and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat for 12 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• Taste and adjust seasoning; rice will be only partially cooked.
• Preheat oven to 175°C Cut a slice off stem end of peppers, leaving stem on. Reserve slice; remove core and seeds from inside pepper.
• Spoon stuffing into peppers and cover with reserved slices.
• Stand them in a baking dish in which they just fit.
• Add 1 1/2 cups broth or hot water to dish.
• Sprinkle peppers with 2T oil.
• Cover and bake for 1 hour or until peppers are tender, basting occasionally and adding a little more water if needed.

SUMMERY STUFFED RED & YELLOW BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Place the couscous and boiling water in a large bowl, cover and let the couscous sit for 15 minutes.
• Fluff the couscous with a fork, then let it cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, slice the tops off the whole peppers.
• Core, seed, wash and drain the peppers.
• If necessary, slice a little off the bottoms of the peppers so they will sit on a plate without falling over.
• Combine the diced peppers, scallions, zucchini and cooled couscous in a large mixing bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, olive oil and dill and mix well.
• Pour the dressing over the couscous mixture and toss to coat.
• Spoon one-sixth of the couscous mixture into each cored pepper.
• Cover the peppers with plastic wrap and chill until needed.

THAI-STYLE CHICKEN STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut the tops off of the peppers and scrape out the insides.
• Once cleaned out, place peppers in a casserole dish.
• Brown the chicken.
• Drain off excess fat.
• In a bowl, combine the salsa, peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, lime juice and peanuts.
• Fold into the chicken.
• Spoon the mixture into the peppers.
• Add 4 tablespoons of hot water to bottom of baking dish.
• Cover the baking dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until peppers are tender.

TOMATO STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Place a few teaspoons of oil into a shallow rasting dish.
• Cut peppers in half lengthwise and lay them cutside up.
• Add a small whole or half tomato to each pepper.
• Sprinkle chopped basil leaves, spring onions, chopped garlic and salt and pepper over.
• Drizzle with the olive oil.
• Bake 25 minutes.

FRENCH STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH FENNEL AND GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 120C/240F/Gas 1.
• Cut the peppers in half, discard the core & seeds and also trim away the white membrane too.
• Grease a Le Creuset roasting or ovenproof dish.
• Cut the onion & fennel bulb into 6 wedges each. (Keep the the delicate green fronds from the fennel bulb & put to one side.).
• Put the onion wedges, fennel wedges & cushed garlic into a mixing bowl & add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt & black pepper - mix well.
• Divide the onion & fennel wedges between the 6 pepper halves, arranging them neatly within the peppers & season well.Pour the remaining oil & vinegar dressing over the top of them.
• Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the peppers are soft & just tinged brown.
• Remove the stuffed peppers from the oven & increase the oven temperature to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Sprinkle the chopped sun-dried tomatoes over the top of the peppers.
• Slice the goats cheese & arrange over the top of the stuffed peppers; return them the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted & bubbling.
• Remove from the oven, leave to cool slightly and serve them warm or at room temperature with the cooked dressing drizzled over the top of them.
• Garnish with the green fronds kept from the fennel bulbs.
• Serve as a starter, 1 pepper half per person with a side salad or as a main course - 2 pepper halves per person with bread & salad.
• These can also be served as a very colourful & elegant vegetable accompaniment!