Stuffed Peppers With Bulgur Walnut Pilaf Food

BULGUR PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste, chopped tomatoes and green peppers, and continue to cook with the onions until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the bulgur, cumin, salt and pepper, and stir to combine until the bulgur is completely coated in the tomato paste, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the chickpeas on top along with 3 cups of chicken broth or water and stir to combine. Remove from heat, close the lid and allow the bulgur to absorb the liquid for 10 minutes. Open the lid and fluff with a fork.
• Serve with chopped parsley and fresh vegetables, if desired.

STUFFED PEPPERS WITH PILAF

Steps:

• Cut around the stems of the peppers (reserving the stem caps), remove the seeds, wash and drain the peppers. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan, add the onions and pine nuts and saute until onions are soft and golden, 10 to 15 minutes, seasoning with salt to taste. Add the rice, and saute for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook a minute longer, then add the currants, mint, sugar and nutmeg. Add the hot water and lemon juice, adjust seasonings, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until all the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rice stand for 5 to 10 minutes to cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Stuff the peppers loosely with the rice mixture, and close them with the reserved caps. Place stuffed peppers side by side in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Add a little water to the baking dish, cover and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until peppers are tender and rice is fully cooked, adding more water to dish if needed. Squeeze lemon juice over the peppers and serve warm or room temperature with remaining lemon wedges.

SWEET AND SOUR PEPPERS STUFFED WITH RICE OR BULGUR AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Simmer the peppers. Combine the water, sugar, vinegar, sliced onion, sliced garlic, salt, bay leaf and thyme in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the peppers, turn the heat to medium and boil gently for 15 minutes, checking and spooning liquid over the peppers from time to time if they are not submerged. Remove from the heat, allow to cool, cover and refrigerate until cold.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet and add the fennel and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the fennel is tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant, then stir in the rice or bulgur and mix together. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Stir in the herbs.
• Set a strainer over a bowl and drain the peppers. Blot them dry with paper towels and arrange on a platter or on plates if serving cold. Arrange in a lightly oiled baking dish if serving hot, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Fill with the rice mixture and spoon 2 teaspoons of the marinade over the filling of each serving. Sprinkle on the feta. Serve or chill if serving cold. If serving warm place in the oven for 15 minutes, until the cheese softens.

PORK & BULGUR-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Put the peppers, cut-side down, on a plate and microwave on High for 4 mins until cooked through (but not so soft they collapse). If they need longer, microwave for 1 min more and repeat until done.
• Put the pork in a cold frying pan and turn on the heat. Fry, breaking up any lumps, until it starts to brown. Stir in the garlic and spices for 1 min, then add the bulgur and stock. Cover and simmer for 10 mins until the bulgur is soft.
• Heat the grill. Stir half the parsley into the bulgur, then stuff into the peppers on a baking tray. Grill to crisp, sprinkle over most of the parsley, then serve with the yogurt mixed with remaining parsley.

CHARRED SWEETCORN, RED PEPPER & BULGUR WHEAT PILAF

Steps:

• Heat ½ tbsp oil in a casserole dish (that has a lid) over a high heat. Fry the corn cobs for 8-10 mins turning frequently, until golden and lightly charred. Stand on a chopping board and run the knife down the cobs to remove the kernels.
• Tip the peppers into the pan with the remaining oil and fry for 10 mins until softened and golden, then stir in the spring onions, paprika and garlic. Fry for another 3-4 mins until fragrant, then stir most of the corn back into the pan, along with the stock. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the bulgur. Turn the heat to low. Cover with the lid and leave for 8-10 mins until the stock has been absorbed and the bulgur is tender.
• Fluff the pilaf up with a fork, then scatter with the remaining corn and the coriander. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt dusted with a little paprika, if you like, and the lime wedges for squeezing over.