Stuffed Bell Peppers American Style 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.

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.

TRADITIONAL STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers. With sharp knife, remove white membrane inside peppers. Wash and pat dry.
• Arrange peppers in baking pan. If one is uneven, slice a bit off the bottom to allow it to stand freely.
• Brown ground beef with onions and garlic.
• Add seasonings, tomatoes, and rice. Blend well. If too soupy, cook until some juice is cooked off.
• Stuff peppers.
• Bake 350 for 45 minutes.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS (AMERICAN STYLE)

Steps:

• Prepare Minute white rice, fluff, cover and set aside.
• Dice sweet onion, add to large non-stick saute/frying pan with lean ground beef. Sauté beef and onion until beef is browned. Drain fat, add 2 1/2 cups of Jasmine white rice to browned beef and diced sweet onion; mix.
• Cut green bell peppers in half, remove caps and seeds; rinse. Pour 1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce into measuring cup and add 4 heaping tablespoons of honey and blend. Pour tomato sauce mixture over beef and rice; mix.
• Add second 15 oz. can of tomato sauce to measuring cup and add 4 heaping tablespoons honey; blend.
• Add beef and rice mixture to green bell pepper halves. Arrange in glass casserole dish.
• Pour tomato sauce mixture over and around stuffed bell peppers.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. Serve with a crisp cool salad.

SOUTHERN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
• Slice tops off of peppers and remove seeds and membranes.
• Blanch peppers in boiling water if desired.
• Set peppers in prepared dish.
• Cook sausage and garlic powder until sausage is browned.
• Drain.
• In medium bowl, stir together half of the French onions.
• Add rest of ingredients, mix well.
• Evenly spoon mixture into peppers.
• Cover with foil.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until peppers are tender and filling is hot.
• Remove cover; top with remaining onions and bake 10 minutes more.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Combine the cranberry sauce, tomato sauce, the raw ground beef, 1/2 cup of raw rice, chopped onion, 2 tablespoons ketchup, Worcestershire, 1 cup tap water, salt and pepper to taste and brown sugar and bring to a boil.
• Reduce to a simmer and add white raisins. Simmer 5 minutes.
• Remove stems and seeds inside of peppers.
• Rinse inside under running water to make sure all the seeds are out.
• Place peppers standing up in a large pot and cover peppers with water. Bring to a boil and boil until peppers are tender.
• Remove from hot water and with tongs remove peppers from pot and place them upside down on a plate to drain.
• After cooking the meat mixture, fill the peppers with the mixture, and place the filled peppers into a deep roasting pan. Cover with the remaining mixture. Cover the pan with the lid or with heavy duty aluminum foil and cook in pre-heated 375 degree oven for 1/2 hour.
• Remove the lid and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cheese over each pepper. Return to oven and continue to cook at 375 degrees until cheese melts. Spoon remaining sauce from pan over peppers and serve immediately.

SOUTH AMERICAN STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees C., gas mark 4.
• Heat oil in a pan and fry onion 4-5 minutes, stirring until soft.
• Add chilli, garlic, tomatoes and pumpkin and cook 8-10 minutes. Stir in apricots, cinnamon and almonds. Season.
• Stuff the peppers with mixture and place in a roasting.
• Bake 20-25 minutes, until pumpkin is tender.

CLASSIC STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut thin slice from stem end of each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse. Place peppers, with tops, upright in ungreased 9x12 inch glass baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave until hot, 3 to 4 minutes--(note: do NOT cook peppers until done, you are just blanching them, 3 to 4 minutes should be plenty, depending on the size of your peppers). Proceed to finish cooking in microwave OR in oven (see following instructions).
• OVEN METHOD: Cook and stir hamburger and onion until hamburger is light brown; drain if necessary. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, cooked rice, corn (if using), and 1 cup of the tomato sauce; heat through.
• Stuff each pepper with hamburger mixture; stand upright in ungreased baking dish, 9x12 inches. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. Replace tops (stem ends) on peppers. Cover with foil; cook in 350 degree F oven 45 minutes. Uncover; cook 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• -OR-.
• MICROWAVE METHOD: (This is a good technique in warm weather, when you don't want to heat up your kitchen!): Mix cooked rice, uncooked hamburger, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, corn, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Stuff each pepper with about 1/2 cup of the hamburger mixture. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. Replace tops on peppers. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave 7 minutes on HIGH. Turn plate; microwave until mixture is done, 7 to 8 minutes longer. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Serve with grated Parmesan cheese at the table. Makes 6 servings.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Combine rice and water in a small saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205C) Cut tops off peppers, seed insides, and arrange peppers in a large baking dish.
• Chop usable portion of the tops.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Brown ground beef in skillet.
• Stir in chopped peppers and onions in oil until soft.
• Add parsley.
• Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
• Mix in cooked rice and 1 1/5 cups tomato sauce.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the mixture into the peppers, and top each with remaining tomato sauce.
• Cover, and bake about 45 minutes.
• Uncover, top each pepper with mozzarella cheese, and bake until cheese is melted.

TACO STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Brown ground beef in skillet over medium heat.
• Drain; return to skillet.
• Add taco seasoning and water.
• Simmer and stir until water is absorbed.
• Stir salsa and rice into ground beef mixture.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• With cooking spray, coat a 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Slice tops off of peppers and remove seeds and membrane.
• Blanch peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes if desired.
• Put peppers into prepared dish.
• Evenly divide ground beef mixture among peppers.
• Cover and bake for 20 to 25 or until heated through.
• Remove cover.
• Sprinkle cheese evenly over peppers.
• Return to oven until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.
• Serve with sour cream on side if desired.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C degrees.
• Cut peppers in half lengthways, and remove all the seeds and white membrane.
• Cook the rice in large pan of boiling water until tender (about 12 minutes) Drain well and set aside in a mixing bowl to cool.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook onion until soft.
• Add garlic and cook one more minute.
• Add onion and garlic to the rice, along with all the remaining ingredients.
• Mix everything together well, and season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the rice mixture into the pepper shells, and place them on an oven tray.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the peppers are soft and the filling is brown on top.
• (Can be made with other coloured peppers).