Macedonian Stuffed Bell Peppers Food

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.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking parchment paper. Cut each bell pepper in half vertically, leaving stem intact; remove seeds and membranes. In 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, heat 3 quarts water to boiling. Add bell peppers to boiling water, making sure water covers peppers. Cook 2 minutes; drain. Place peppers cut side up in pan.
• In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook turkey, garlic, Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper. Cook over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up turkey, until turkey is no longer pink; drain.
• Transfer turkey mixture to medium bowl; stir in pasta sauce, chick peas and artichoke hearts. Stir in mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the feta cheese.
• Divide turkey mixture evenly among bell peppers in pan (peppers will be full). Spray one side of foil with cooking spray; cover with foil, sprayed side down. Bake 32 to 37 minutes or until bell peppers are tender and filling is hot.
• In small bowl, mix tomatoes, basil and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Top cooked bell peppers with tomato mixture and remaining 1/4 cup feta cheese before serving.

MACEDONIAN STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut the top from the stem end of each pepper.
• Remove seeds and wash.
• Drop peppers into boiling, salted water and parboil 5 minutes; Drain completely.
• Melt butter in heavy frying pan.
• Add onions, garlic and chopped pepper and saute until tender.
• Add tomato puree, ham, salt, and pepper to taste; Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in bread crumbs and eggs.
• Stuff mixture into pepper shells. Sprinkle tops with cracker crumbs. Bake in oven of 350 for about 25 minutes or until stuffing is firm and lightly browned on top.

YEMISTA (GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES AND PEPPERS)

Steps:

• Cut off tops of tomatoes (retain tops) and carefully scoop out flesh (retain this as well).
• Cut off tops of peppers (retain tops) and remove seeds and membrane.
• Place tomatoes and peppers in a pan large enough to hold them comfortably and give each veg a tiny dash of sugar with the tips of your fingertips (I really think this is important!).
• Take tomato flesh and process it until pureed.
• Add olive oil, rice, onion, garlic, mint, parsley, nuts, cheese, sultanas, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper (or season to taste).
• Stuff the vegetables evenly with this mixture.
• Replace tops of tomatoes and peppers.
• Combine 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup olive oil with a scant tablespoonful of tomato paste and a little salt and pepper and pour this around the veg.
• Bake in a preheated 375F oven (180C) for approx 1 3/4 hours (vegetables should pierce easily and be slightly blackened in parts).
• Turn off oven and leave in for another hour to'mellow' before serving.
• This is best served slightly warm or at room temperature.
• It is wonderful eaten along with little bites of feta cheese and a cool glass of white or rose.
• It will also have yummy juices begging to be mopped up with bits of crusty bread.
• In my version, I also take 3-4 medium-sized potatoes, cut them into big wedges, toss in a little olive oil with salt and pepper to taste, and'plant' in the spaces amidst the vegetables.
• That way you can have a couple of wedges of potato too.

LOW CARB MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops out of the green peppers and remove any seeds or membranes.
• Blanch peppers for 5 minutes in salted boiling water, or you may place these in a microwave-safe pan, add 1/4 cup water, cover and cook for 5 minutes on high until softened.
• Meanwhile, brown ground meat and onion in oil, add spices.
• When meat is almost cooked through, add chopped tomato.
• When meat is cooked through, allow to cool slightly then mix in the yogurt and lemon juice.
• Place peppers in a baking pan and fill peppers with mixture and top peppers with feta and parmesan cheeses.
• Cover baking pan with lid or foil and bake at 350F for about 15 minutes.
• Remove lid or foil and cook about 10 minutes more.

BAKED STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl combine ground beef, cooked rice, minced pepper, minced onion, minced garlic, Italian seasonings, beaten egg, breadcrumbs and salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
• Use your hands to mix ingredients well.
• Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup - measure out a 1/2 cup meat mixture for each halved pepper and fill.
• *At this point, if you are using this recipe for OAMC you can wrap your peppers in saranwrap, then place them in a zip-lock bag and store them in the freezer for later use.*.
• Place peppers in a baking dish and cover with your favorite jarred or homemade spaghetti sauce (about 1 cup per pepper half).
• Cover and allow to cook 90 minutes (Please note that I have only ever made 4 halves at one time - so the cooking time could be longer if making 6 or more at the same time.).
• After 90 minutes, check to see how far along the peppers are cooked; if they are nearly done uncover and baste with some of the spaghetti sauce from the baking dish (as mentioned above, if baking many peppers all at one time there is the possibility that they will not be as far along at this point - please continue to bake covered an additional 30 to 45 minutes and then proceed with the following instructions.).
• Bake an additional 20 minutes then top each pepper half with shredded cheese and continue baking another 10 to 15 minutes.
• Serve along side freshly baked bread and a salad, enjoy!