Stuffed Bell Peppers Classic Ukrainian Food

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS (CLASSIC UKRAINIAN RECIPE)

Steps:

• Slice the bell pepper into two pieces. Remove the seeds from the pepper. Dice carrots and onions into small squares.
• Cut beef into small, thin pieces. Preheat oiled skillet on high heat. Cook beef until it gets a golden color. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• In the same skillet, sautee carrots and onions until they soften. Add sliced mushrooms and continue cooking until all the ingredients are golden.
• Add buckwheat and beef to the skillet, season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine everything together.
• Fill each one of the peppers with the cooked buckwheat filling.
• Bake for 35 minutes at 370F. Place slice of cheese on each pepper, cook for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

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.

CLASSIC RICE & BEEF STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over high heat.
• Add 1 tablespoon salt and bell peppers.
• Cook until peppers just begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, remove peppers from pot, drain off excess water and place peppers cut side up on paper towels.
• Return water to boil; add rice and boil until tender, about 13 minutes.
• Drain rice and transfer to large bowl; set aside.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F.
• Meanwhile, heat 12 inch heavy bottomed skillet over medium high heat until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; add oil and swirl to coat.
• Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add ground beef and cook, breaking beef into small pieces with spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant about 30 seconds.
• Transfer mixture to bowl with rice; stir in tomatoes, 1 cup cheese, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir together ketchup and reserved tomato juice in small bowl.
• Place peppers cut side up in 9 inch square baking dish.
• Using soup spoon, divide filling evenly among peppers.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons ketchup mixture over each filled pepper and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of remaining cheese.
• Bake until cheese is browned and filling is heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

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.