Mediterranean Lamb And Couscous Stuffed Bell Peppers Food

LAMB AND RICE STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove the tops from the peppers and scoop out the seeds and ribs. Carefully trim the bottoms if necessary to make peppers stand straight when upright. Place a steamer rack over a few inches of boiling water, or set a colander over a couple of inches boiling water in a large stock pot. Place the peppers in the steamer and cover. Steam 10 minutes, and remove to a baking dish or casserole.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the orzo and brown lightly, and then add 1/2 the garlic and stir. After 30 seconds stir in the water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 15 minutes. Spread the orzo onto a baking sheet and cool.
• Place the ground lamb in a bowl and add the cooled orzo. Season with 1/2 the marjoram, the rosemary, 2 tablespoons parsley, and season with salt, and pepper. Overstuff the peppers with the filling. Drizzle about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil over the peppers, pouring about 1 tablespoon over top of each. Arrange the peppers in a casserole or small baking dish and roast 50 minutes to 1 hour, until crispy at the edges and cooked through.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, cubanelle peppers, remaining garlic, remaining marjoram, and saute until soft. Add the tomato sauce, and season with salt, and pepper.
• Cool the peppers and sauce for a make-ahead meal or serve immediately.
• For reheating: Add 1/2 cup water to the baking dish, and place in a heated 375 degree F oven, covered until warmed throughout, about 30 minutes. Uncover and let the water evaporate, and crisp the top, 20 minutes more. Reheat the sauce over medium-low heat to heat through.
• Serve the peppers hot with sauce over top, or in a puddle underneath the peppers. Top with crumbled feta.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pop the peppers on a plate and microwave on Medium for 5 mins, until almost soft. Place on a baking tray, cut-side up.
• Meanwhile, place the couscous in a bowl and cover with 125ml boiling water. Stir, cover the bowl and leave to stand for 10 mins. Stir the couscous with a fork to break it up, then mix in the pine nuts, olives, feta, tomatoes and basil. Pile the couscous stuffing into the pepper halves and bake for 10 mins.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB-AND COUSCOUS-STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Slice peppers in half lengthwise through the stems and remove seeds.
• Place halves, cut side down, in a 12-by-17-inch baking pan.
• Bake in a 450 degree, regular or convection oven until lightly browned and tender when pierced,13 to 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a 10-to-12-inch frying pan over high heat, stir onions, garlic, thyme, mint and rosemary in olive oil until onions are limp and begining to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add ground lamb and 3 tablespoons lemon juice.
• Stir until lamb is browned and crumbly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in broth, couscous, and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
• Bring to a boil, then cover and remove from heat; let stand until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender to bite, 3to 4 minutes.
• Stir in parsley; add salt to taste.
• Turn pepper halves over; fill each with about 2/3 cup lamb mixture.
• Sprinkle feta cheese evenly over filling.
• Bake until cheese is slightly melted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer peppers to a platter.
• Serve.

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.

SWEET PEPPERS STUFFED WITH LAMB AND MINTED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove the stems from the peppers with a paring knife. Remove the seeds, leaving the vegetables whole. Set aside.
• Place the couscous in a very fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold running water. Rub the couscous between your hands to separate the grains. Spread the couscous in a shallow pan and let it rest for 15 minutes until plumped. Run your fingers through it to keep it from being clumpy.
• Place one cup of the broth, the salt and turmeric in a pot and bring to a boil. Add the couscous and stir. Strain off excess liquid, if any, reserve and return the couscous to the shallow pan to cool quickly.
• Meanwhile, in a small saute pan, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and brown slightly. Add the ground lamb and pepper and stir over high heat until the meat is slightly undercooked, about two to three minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the couscous, lamb, chopped mint and egg and mix well. Taste the mixture and add salt and pepper if desired. Stuff the mixture tightly into the peppers, being careful not to break them.
• Lightly coat a medium-sized skillet with four tablespoons of olive oil. Place over a high flame and add the peppers. Cook until slightly browned. Measure the reserved broth and, if necessary, add more broth to bring the total to one cup. Add this to the peppers. Cover and finish cooking in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.
• Serve hot, cold or at room temperature.