Stuffed Peppers With Couscous Or Harvest Grain Blend Food

LENTIL & COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the prepared peppers on the sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use your hands to rub the oil all over both sides of the peppers, then arrange them with the cut side up and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the peppers are tender and a little blistered around the edges.
• Meanwhile, combine the lentils, broth or water and bay leaf in a small pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the lentils are tender, about 23 to 25 minutes. (Add another splash of water if necessary to prevent the lentils from scorching.) Drain off the excess water and return the lentils to the pot. Discard the bay leaf.
• While the lentils cook, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy-bottomed, medium pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and a sprinkle of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning golden on the edges, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and pour in the couscous and 1/2 cup broth or water. Cover and set aside for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fluff the mixture with a fork.
• In a medium serving bowl, combine the cooked lentils and couscous. Add the crumbled feta, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, chopped basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and season to taste with additional salt, pepper and lemon juice, if necessary.
• Spoon a generous amount of filling into each roasted pepper halve and sprinkle with a little more chopped basil. Serve these with a fork and a knife, for slicing!

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.

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!

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 COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with olive oil.
• Cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise (from top to bottom). Remove the stems and seeds and place them cut-side up in the baking dish.
• Bring the broth to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the couscous, salt, and turmeric. Cover with a lid and set aside for 10 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed. Remove the lid to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add the zucchini, garlic, and oregano and cook an additional 3-4 minutes., until softened and fragrant.
• Stir in the black-eyed peas and tomatoes and cook another 2-3 minutes.
• Fold in the couscous, feta and basil. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Fill the pepper halves with the couscous mixture and cover the baking dish tightly with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is golden.
• Sprinkle with extra feta and fresh basil before serving if desired.

COUSCOUS-STUFFED PEPPERS WITH BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Filling: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth and cumin to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the couscous. Cover the pan until the couscous is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 to 6 minutes. Put the couscous in a large bowl and add the beans, currants, spinach, feta and 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir until all the ingredients are combined.
• Slice the tops off the peppers and remove all the ribs and seeds. If necessary, cut a very thin slice from the base to help the peppers stand up. Stuff the peppers with the filling and drizzle the tops with olive oil. Put the peppers in an 8 by 8-inch square baking dish. Fill the baking dish with 3/4-inch hot water and bake until the filling is golden and the peppers are cooked through, about 55 to 60 minutes. Cooks
• Sauce: In a blender, combine the basil, creme fraiche, olive oil, water, garlic, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Remove the peppers from the oven and arrange on serving plates. Spoon the sauce around the peppers and serve.

GRAIN-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the peppers in half through the stalks. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard. Put the peppers cut-side up on to a baking sheet and roast for 10 mins or until beginning to soften.
• Heat half the oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the leeks and chorizo and fry for 7 mins over a medium heat. Stir through the garlic, grains and spinach and cook for 3 mins or until the spinach has wilted. Mix through the lemon zest and crème fraîche and season to taste. Fill the peppers with the mixture and return to the oven for 10 mins.
• Mix the remaining oil with the lemon juice and ½ the parsley. Toss the salad leaves with the dressing. Scatter the remaining parsley and almonds over the peppers, if using, and serve with the salad on the side.