Tuscan Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipes

ITALIAN-STYLE STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a roasting pan (large enough to accommodate 8 pepper halves in a single layer) with cooking spray.
• Combine the ground sirloin, Italian sausage, brown rice, Italian seasonings, salt, pepper, garlic, Parmesan cheese, egg, and 1/2 cup Classico® Tomato & Basil sauce in a large bowl. Mix until combined.
• Divide meat mixture evenly among the green pepper halves; press to compress slightly. Arrange halves in prepared pan. Spoon the remaining Classico® Tomato & Basil sauce onto the tops of the meat and peppers. Cover tightly with foil.
• Bake until the peppers are soft and internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove from oven. Remove foil and top each pepper with shredded cheese.
• Turn oven to broil. Place peppers, uncovered under the broiler. Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

TUSCAN BEEF-STUFFED PEPPERS WITH PEARLED COUSCOUS AND MELTED MOZZ

Steps:

• Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry all produce. Halve bell peppers lengthwise; remove stems and seeds. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle each half with oil; rub to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and softened, 18-20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add couscous and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until toasted, 2-3 minutes. Add ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4). Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until couscous is tender, 6-8 minutes. Keep covered off heat. While couscous cooks, halve, peel, and dice onion. Finely dice tomato.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, preferably ovenproof, pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add beef and Tuscan Heat Spice; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-5 minutes. TIP: If there's excess grease in your pan, carefully pour it out.
• Stir tomato paste and diced tomato into pan with beef mixture until thoroughly combined. Add stock concentrate and ⅓ cup water; season with salt and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in couscous until thoroughly combined. Turn off heat.
• Once bell peppers are done, remove from oven and stuff each half with as much filling as will fit. Place in pan with remaining filling, nestling each stuffed pepper half into the mixture. (TIP: If your pan isn't ovenproof, transfer mixture to a small baking dish and arrange stuffed pepper halves in there.) Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella.
• Bake stuffed peppers on middle rack until cheese has melted, 3-4 minutes. Divide remaining filling between plates. Top with stuffed peppers and serve.

ITALIAN STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the cooked rice and the raw ground beef.
• Add the egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to your taste, and mix very well.(I find it's best to mix it with your hands like meatloaf.).
• Prepare the peppers by cutting them in half from top to bottom like an apple, so you have two identical halves. Take off the stem and remove the seeds.
• Fill the pepper halves equally with the rice mixture. Set them down in a 13x9" baking pan that you have put a little of the sauce on the bottom of first.
• Generously spoon sauce over the stuffed top of each pepper and then pour the remaining sauce around the peppers in the pan.
• Sprinkle the top with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Bake at 350°F until the peppers are very soft and tender when tested with a knife.(depending on your oven maybe an hour or so; mine takes longer because my oven is ancient:).
• Spoon the sauce over the peppers at least three or four times while they are cooking. The sauce will thicken slightly as you bake the peppers and get delicious and rich.
• Enjoy!

ITALIAN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• To prepare the peppers, trim about 1/4-inch from tops of bell peppers. Snip around the core and then remove it. Place snug into a baking dish just large enough to fit the peppers.
• Brush or spray the inside of each pepper with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the peppers until just undercooked and firm (about 15 minutes).
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until translucent (around 4-5 minutes). Add the garlic and cook another minute.
• Add beef season with salt and pepper then let cook until browned. Break up the beef and toss it with onions and continue to cook another 2 minutes, Remove from heat, drain off excess fat if necessary.
• Stir in tomatoes and crush them with a spoon or potato masher. Mix in the cooked rice, parsley, basil, and oregano.
• Taste for seasoning and if needed, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Spoon the mixture evenly into the roasted peppers. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese bake 20-25 minute or until the peppers are tender and the tops are crisp and golden. Serve warm.

TUSCAN STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Slice the tops off of each of the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Place peppers on foil lined baking sheet, and broil about 4 inches from heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until charred. Turn to brown all sides. After they are browned, place the peppers in a plastic bag to sweat for about 30 minutes, and then remove the skin.
• Meanwhile cut the eggplant into 1/2 inch slices and sprinkle both sides with salt; let drain for 30 minutes. Wipe off excess salt and cut eggplant into 1/2 inch cubes. Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a skillet sauté the fennel in olive oil for 4 minutes. Add the eggplant and garlic and sauté 7 to 8 minutes more. Remove the skillet from heat and add olives, parsley, capers, sage, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
• Divide filling among peppers. Arrange peppers in baking dish and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in preheated oven uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through.