Couscous Stuffed Chilies Bells Or Jalapeno Peppers Recipes

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.

GRILLED STUFFED JALAPENO CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat a gas or charcoal grill or stovetop grill pan over high heat.
• Grill the jalapenos until browned or blistered on all sides and slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, mix the cheese and oregano in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• To remove the seeds from the jalapenos, make a crosswise cut at the stem end of each jalapeno, then slice lengthwise down the middle, being careful not to cut the jalapeno completely in half. Peel open the sides of each jalapeno and, using a spoon, gently scrape out the seeds and veins. Fill the cavities with 1 tablespoon of the cheese-oregano mixture. Wrap 1 slice of bacon tightly around each stuffed jalapeno to seal in the cheese.
• Grill, starting the poppers on the side where the bacon-wrapping ends, until the bacon is crisp and fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

COUSCOUS-STUFFED CHILIES, BELLS OR JALAPENO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Combine tomato juice (I use the liquid from a 28 ounce can of tomatoes) and chicken stock. Bring to boiling, remove from heat and stir in couscous and coriander. Cover and let sit while you prepare the peppers. When couscous has absorbed the liquid (about five minutes) add the pine nuts and half the cheese and mix well.
• Slice off the stem end of the peppers and remove as many seeds and the white stuff around them as you can--that's where the heat's concentrated. Spoon some of the couscous mixture into the end of the pepper, poking it in with the end of the spoon, your finger or a chopstick. A chopstick (the thicker end) comes in handy for pushing the stuffing down to the tip of skinnier peppers.
• Continue stuffing until the pepper is full to just below the rim. Depending on the size of the peppers, around half or a third of the couscous should be left when you're through. Place the peppers in a shallow casserole dish (chilies on their side, bells upright) and bake uncovered at 375* F for 45 minutes.
• Arrange the stuffed, cooked peppers over a bed of the leftover couscous on a platter or plate, then sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and melt under the broiler or in the oven. (Make sure the dish is oven proof!).
• After the cheese melts, sprinkle the green onions and raisins (really) over the top and serve hot.

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.

GRILLED STUFFED JALAPENO CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat a gas or charcoal grill, or a stovetop grill pan, over high heat.
• Grill the jalapenos until browned or blistered on all sides and slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, mix the cheese and oregano in a small bowl. Season with some salt and pepper.
• To remove the seeds from the jalapenos, make a crosswise cut at the stem-end of the jalapeno and then slice lengthwise down the middle, being careful not to cut the jalapeno completely in half. Peel open the sides of the jalapeno and, using a spoon, gently scrape out the seeds and veins. Fill the cavities with 1 tablespoon of the cheese-oregano mixture. Then wrap 1 slice of bacon tightly around the stuffed jalapeno to seal in the cheese. Transfer to the hot grill (try to place the jalapeno on the grill on the side where the bacon ends). Grill until the bacon is crisp and fully cooked, 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

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.

CHILI AND CHEESE STUFFED JALAPEñO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Heat dressing in medium saucepan on medium-high heat. Add meat, tomatoes, nuts and raisins; stir. Cook 3 to 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally; drain. Return meat mixture to pan; stir in 1/4 cup cheese.
• Place peppers on foil-covered baking sheet; fill with meat mixture.
• Bake 10 min. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 3 to 5 min. or until melted.

COUSCOUS-STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cook couscous in water as directed on box omitting oil; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in 8-inch square (2-quart) microwavable dish, arrange bell pepper halves; add 2 tablespoons water. Cover with microwavable waxed paper. Microwave on High 3 to 4 minutes or just until crisp-tender.
• Stir spinach and cheese into couscous. Spoon mixture into pepper halves.

COUSCOUS AND FETA STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. Bring the broth to a boil in a saucepan, add the couscous, cover the pan and remove it from the heat. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut the stems and top half inch off the bell peppers and scoop out the seeds and membranes. Boil trimmed peppers for 5 minutes, then drain them upside down. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet. Add onion, zucchini, yellow squash, fennel seeds, oregano, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Remove from heat and stir in the tomatoes and chickpeas. Using a fork, scrape the couscous into the skillet and toss with the vegetables. Stir in the crumbled feta. Place peppers upright in the baking dish and fill them with couscous. Bake 15 minutes. Serve immediately.