Stuffed Peppers With Chicken And Couscous Food

HEALTHY VEGETABLE AND COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut off the very tops of the peppers. Remove and discard the ribs and seeds and set the peppers aside.
• Drain the tomatoes in a colander set over a medium bowl. Reserve the juice and set the tomatoes aside over a plate to catch any residual juices. Stir the couscous, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper into the tomato juice and set aside while preparing the filling.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, zucchini, half the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened and just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to high, stir in the couscous mixture and simmer rapidly, stirring frequently, until the couscous is just al dente and the liquid is beginning to thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook, adjusting the heat if necessary, until the leaves are bright green and just beginning to wilt, about 30 seconds. Set the filling aside to cool slightly.
• To make the sauce, combine the remaining garlic and olive oil in a Dutch oven, add the chile flakes if using and stir to combine. Place the pot over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally at first then more frequently as the oil starts to sizzle to prevent the garlic from burning, until the garlic starts to stick to the edge of the spoon and is just beginning to turn a very pale straw color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved drained tomatoes plus any accumulated juices, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture just begins to come together and thicken, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Fold the feta and basil into the couscous filling. Fill a pepper with about 3/4 cup of the filling, scooping it in loosely and shaking the pepper to level the filling rather than packing it down. Nestle the filled pepper in the sauce in the pot, then repeat with the remaining peppers, propping them up against each other and the sides of the pot for stability during baking.
• Cover the pot and bake until the peppers are tender but not mushy and the sauce is bubbling, 45 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes to see if the peppers are tender but not soft or they will be overcooked and mushy. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature with a generous scoop of the tomato sauce.

SWEET AND SOUR COUSCOUS-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Pulse the carrots, celery and shallots in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high. Add the chopped vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. (Add a splash of water if the mixture begins to stick.) Add the ground beef and 4 teaspoons of the tomato paste and cook, breaking the mixture up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, the parsley, raisins, 1 tablespoon of the vinegar and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until most of the water is absorbed and the mixture gets saucy, about 1 minute. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, toss the pepper halves with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the peppers are pliable, 10 to 12 minutes. Carefully uncover the bowl and pour out any liquid that has accumulated.
• Stir the couscous into the beef mixture. Whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 3/4 cup water in the bottom of a large baking dish.
• Carefully transfer the peppers to the baking dish cut-side up and fill each pepper with the couscous mixture. Sprinkle with the cheese. Cover with foil and bake until the peppers are tender and the stuffing is hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature drizzled with the tomato cooking liquid.

COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Core and seed the peppers and cut in half lengthwise. Pre-cook in microwave about 4 minutes.
• Bring chicken broth to boil and add dry couscous.
• Stir in ranch mix. Toss in pre-cooked thinly sliced, chicken sausage.
• Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring to keep from sticking. Simmer on about med/low.
• When most of the water has been absorbed, lay peppers on baking tray and spoon couscous and sausages into the peppers.
• Bake at 400 about 20 minutes.
• Add a light sprinkle of cheddar cheese if you'd like, or a dollop of fresh sour cream.
• Notes: The couscous is uncooked. The chicken sausage I used was 110 calories and very low fat. When calculated out, I got 212 calories per serving.

STUFFED PEPPERS WITH COUSCOUS OR HARVEST GRAIN BLEND

Steps:

• Cut bell peppers in half long way (stem end to stem end) and remove all inside seeds, etc.
• Place in a pot of boiling water for about 3-4 minutes to soften. Drain in a colander and run cold water over them. Set aside.
• Bring 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil with the bay leaf. Add the couscous or harvest grain blend, turn to low and cover. See the directions for cook time depending on which product you go with.
• In a skillet, brown and crumble the pork sausage. Drain on paper towels.
• Pour off drippings and add olive oil. Cook onion and celery until softened (about 5-7 minutes over medium heat). Add garlic for about 20 seconds (do not burn, will be bitter). Add can of crushed tomatoes, remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth, oregano, basil, mint, and salt and pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes. (I usually have this going while waiting on couscous or harvest grain blend to finish).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and let's assemble!
• In a large bowl, combine the sausage, couscous or harvest grain blend, can of diced tomatoes, salt and pepper, and a good drizzle of olive oil. Mix until everything is blended.
• Spoon almost all of the sauce into the bottom of a rectangular baking pan. Keep about 1 cup aside for the tops of peppers after stuffed.
• Spoon mixture into each half of the peppers and place on top of the sauce in the baking pan. Sometimes it's easier to fill them while they are sitting in the pan so the mixture doesn't fall out on to the counter! Spoon a little of the red sauce on to each one. Do not "over sauce'- it will make them mushy.
• Bake covered with foil (loosely) for about 30 minutes. Uncover for another 10. Sometimes I top each one with a slice of pepper jack or provolone cheese at this point. Use it if you happen to have it!
• Serve and enjoy!

COUSCOUS STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F/180C/gas mark 4.
• Place couscous in a shallow dish and cover with 300ml of boiling water; cover the dish with clingfilm and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Cut 'lids' off the tops off the peppers and scrape the seeds out from inside; place the peppers and their lids in a large saucepan and cover with boiling water; cook the peppers for 5 minutes, drain and set aside to cool.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the cumin seeds, coriander and cayenne pepper and fry for a few seconds before adding the onion and garlic; fry gently for 3-5 minutes until the onion is transparent.
• Add the tomatoes, chickpeas and green beans, stir to mix and fry for a further 2-3 minutes; stir in the couscous and remove from the heat.
• Stand the peppers up in a shallow dish, fill the pepper cavities with couscous mix, put on their lids; bake for about 35-40 minutes.