Stuffed Peppers With Moroccan Rice Pilaf Food

MOROCCAN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut off the tops of the peppers, and remove the seeds and membranes. Cook the peppers in boiling water to cover in a Dutch oven for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain well, and set aside.
• Saute onion and garlic in oil in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until tender.
• Add the ground beef, and cook until the meat is browned, stirring until meat crumbles. Drain.
• Combine the meat mixture, apple, and the next 7 ingredients. Mix well.
• Stuff the reserved peppers with the meat mixture; place in a greased 13x9x2 inch baking dish.
• Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

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.

STUFFED PEPPERS WITH MOROCCAN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• To make Rice PIlaf: In a saucepan, heat the stock almost to boiling. Keep hot over low heat while vegetables and rice are cooking. Meanwhile, in a very large skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add seasonings, onions, garlic, chopped peppers, carrots, and corn. Cook, stirring often, until onions are softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook until it begins to color, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the cilantro, cinnamon stick, saffron, and peas. Pour in the hot stock and stir only once. Taste and add more salt if needed. Cover with a tight fitting lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer undisturbed for about 25 minutes (or according to package directions), or until liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove from the heat and leave untouched for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove cover, fluff the rice with a fork and serve. If using as a stuffing, set aside to cool slightly. To prepare Peppers: Cut about 1/3 off top of peppers, discard seeds, and reserve top. Remove seeds and white membranes from bottom portions of peppers. Stand peppers upright and trim bottoms slightly as needed so they sit fairly level. In a large Dutch oven, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil. Set peppers in water and cook covered for 4 to 5 minutes to soften slightly. Using tongs, carefully remove peppers and set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, fill with rice pilaf, mounding top slightly. Place in a 9-inch-square baking pan. May be made up to 1 day ahead to this point. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Store pepper tops separately. Return to room temperature before continuing. Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle stuffed peppers with cheese if desired. Add a little water to the baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or until hot all the way through and peppers are tender. Serve with tops set on an angle on top of stuffing.

MOROCCAN SPICED LAMB STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut the tops of the peppers, remove the core & seeds.
• Place the peppers in a large saucepan with salted water. (The water should cover the peppers.).
• Bring the water to a boil, then cover and simmer on low 5 minutes. Drain peppers upside down on paper towels.
• Brown lamb and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice, mint, spices, cooked rice and 3/4 cup of the broth.
• Stuff peppers with mixture. Stand stuffed peppers in remaining broth in a large saucepan.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes until peppers are just tender.