Lentil Couscous Stuffed Peppers Food

LENTIL & COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the prepared peppers on the sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use your hands to rub the oil all over both sides of the peppers, then arrange them with the cut side up and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the peppers are tender and a little blistered around the edges.
• Meanwhile, combine the lentils, broth or water and bay leaf in a small pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the lentils are tender, about 23 to 25 minutes. (Add another splash of water if necessary to prevent the lentils from scorching.) Drain off the excess water and return the lentils to the pot. Discard the bay leaf.
• While the lentils cook, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy-bottomed, medium pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and a sprinkle of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning golden on the edges, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and pour in the couscous and 1/2 cup broth or water. Cover and set aside for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fluff the mixture with a fork.
• In a medium serving bowl, combine the cooked lentils and couscous. Add the crumbled feta, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, chopped basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and season to taste with additional salt, pepper and lemon juice, if necessary.
• Spoon a generous amount of filling into each roasted pepper halve and sprinkle with a little more chopped basil. Serve these with a fork and a knife, for slicing!

LENTIL-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Add the vegetable broth and lentils to a medium saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low and cover. Cook until the lentils are tender, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a separate saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent and tender, 5 minutes. Stir in the couscous and cook, stirring often, until toasted and golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 2 cups hot water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the couscous is tender, about 12 minutes.
• Halve the peppers vertically and remove the seeds and membranes. Gently rub the remaining teaspoon olive oil over the peppers and place on a baking sheet. Roast until the peppers are tender, 20 minutes.
• Combine the cooked lentils and couscous in a large bowl along with the basil, feta, parsley, Kalamata olives, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide the couscous mixture into each cooked pepper cavity, and garnish with extra basil and feta, if using.

GREEN BELL PEPPERS STUFFED WITH TOMATO LENTIL COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Cut peppers in half, place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish, and set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups chopped onion, chopped green bell pepper, and garlic. Reduce heat to low, add tomato sauce, and let simmer while preparing the couscous.
• Prepare couscous according to package directions, but add the remaining onion to the water before adding the couscous. When couscous is done, combine it with the sauce. Fill bell peppers with the mixture. Top each with shredded cheese.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown on top.

STUFFED PEPPERS WITH COUSCOUS OR HARVEST GRAIN BLEND

Steps:

• Cut bell peppers in half long way (stem end to stem end) and remove all inside seeds, etc.
• Place in a pot of boiling water for about 3-4 minutes to soften. Drain in a colander and run cold water over them. Set aside.
• Bring 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil with the bay leaf. Add the couscous or harvest grain blend, turn to low and cover. See the directions for cook time depending on which product you go with.
• In a skillet, brown and crumble the pork sausage. Drain on paper towels.
• Pour off drippings and add olive oil. Cook onion and celery until softened (about 5-7 minutes over medium heat). Add garlic for about 20 seconds (do not burn, will be bitter). Add can of crushed tomatoes, remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth, oregano, basil, mint, and salt and pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes. (I usually have this going while waiting on couscous or harvest grain blend to finish).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and let's assemble!
• In a large bowl, combine the sausage, couscous or harvest grain blend, can of diced tomatoes, salt and pepper, and a good drizzle of olive oil. Mix until everything is blended.
• Spoon almost all of the sauce into the bottom of a rectangular baking pan. Keep about 1 cup aside for the tops of peppers after stuffed.
• Spoon mixture into each half of the peppers and place on top of the sauce in the baking pan. Sometimes it's easier to fill them while they are sitting in the pan so the mixture doesn't fall out on to the counter! Spoon a little of the red sauce on to each one. Do not "over sauce'- it will make them mushy.
• Bake covered with foil (loosely) for about 30 minutes. Uncover for another 10. Sometimes I top each one with a slice of pepper jack or provolone cheese at this point. Use it if you happen to have it!
• Serve and enjoy!

LENTIL STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Spray 13x9-inch baking pan and medium skillet with cooking spray; set aside.
• Combine lentils, water and thyme in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover with tight fitting lid, reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 15 minutes or until just tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, cut bell peppers lengthwise through stem into halves. Remove seeds and membranes. Place peppers, cut-side down, in pan. Bake 15 minutes or until tender.
• Heat skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add onion and celery. Cook 3 minutes or until tender, stirring several times. Add undrained tomatoes, salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, keep warm over low heat. Stir in drained lentils.
• Turn pepper halves over. Place half of tomato-lentil mixture in peppers. Top with half of the cheese. Add remaining tomato-lentil mixture and top with remaining cheeese. Bake 5 minutes more to melt cheese. Serve with rice.