Good Housekeeping Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipes

TRADITIONAL STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds. Place peppers in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place in ice water; invert on paper towels., In a small skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat. Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, rice, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Spoon into peppers. , Place in an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Drizzle with remaining tomato sauce. Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until peppers are tender.

THE BEST STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• If your peppers don't sit upright on your cutting board, trim about 1/8-inch off the bottoms to even them out so they can stand without falling over. Cut the top off each pepper about 1/2-inch down. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the remaining flesh from the tops. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membranes as you can. Place the peppers in a large microwave-safe bowl with 1/2 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high power for 12 minutes. Carefully uncover and let them sit until ready to assemble.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the beef in an even layer and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps with the back of a spoon and scraping up any browned bits from the pan until the meat is lightly browned all over, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the browned meat to a large bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and add the reserved chopped peppers, onions, garlic, thyme, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until falling apart and much of the liquid has evaporated, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly until brick red colored, about 1 minute. Stir in the wine and cook until the mixture is reduced, very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Transfer to the bowl with the beef. Stir in the rice until completely combined. (The mixture will be wet.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Place the peppers cut-side up in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Spoon the filling into the peppers, gently pressing it in with the back of a spoon. Be careful not to overstuff and split the sides of the peppers. Bake for 15 minutes. Then top with the cheese and continue baking until the filling is heated through and the cheese is browned in spots, 10 to 12 minutes.

TRADITIONAL STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers. With sharp knife, remove white membrane inside peppers. Wash and pat dry.
• Arrange peppers in baking pan. If one is uneven, slice a bit off the bottom to allow it to stand freely.
• Brown ground beef with onions and garlic.
• Add seasonings, tomatoes, and rice. Blend well. If too soupy, cook until some juice is cooked off.
• Stuff peppers.
• Bake 350 for 45 minutes.

PERFECT STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Core and clean peppers and cook in hot water for approximately 5 minutes. Remove from water, stand upside down and drain.
• Sprinkle inside with salt.
• Brown beef and onions in hot oil. Add tomatoes, rice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in 1 cup cheese and stir until almost melted.
• Stuff peppers and top with additional cheese.
• Bake approximately 25 minutes in 350 oven.
• Note: I usually add about 1/4 cup water to the baking dish just prior to put it in the oven. Also, if you think the whole pepper is to large, you can cut it in half and stuff them that way.
• Note #2: My grandson doesn't like to find a "chunk" of tomato in his pepper -- so if he's going to be around for the meal (his favorite one), I'll put the stewed tomatoes in my food processor and give them a couple whirls just to break up any large pieces of tomato.

CLASSIC STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut thin slice from stem end of each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse. Place peppers, with tops, upright in ungreased 9x12 inch glass baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave until hot, 3 to 4 minutes--(note: do NOT cook peppers until done, you are just blanching them, 3 to 4 minutes should be plenty, depending on the size of your peppers). Proceed to finish cooking in microwave OR in oven (see following instructions).
• OVEN METHOD: Cook and stir hamburger and onion until hamburger is light brown; drain if necessary. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, cooked rice, corn (if using), and 1 cup of the tomato sauce; heat through.
• Stuff each pepper with hamburger mixture; stand upright in ungreased baking dish, 9x12 inches. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. Replace tops (stem ends) on peppers. Cover with foil; cook in 350 degree F oven 45 minutes. Uncover; cook 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• -OR-.
• MICROWAVE METHOD: (This is a good technique in warm weather, when you don't want to heat up your kitchen!): Mix cooked rice, uncooked hamburger, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, corn, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Stuff each pepper with about 1/2 cup of the hamburger mixture. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. Replace tops on peppers. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave 7 minutes on HIGH. Turn plate; microwave until mixture is done, 7 to 8 minutes longer. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Serve with grated Parmesan cheese at the table. Makes 6 servings.

CLASSIC RICE & BEEF STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over high heat.
• Add 1 tablespoon salt and bell peppers.
• Cook until peppers just begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, remove peppers from pot, drain off excess water and place peppers cut side up on paper towels.
• Return water to boil; add rice and boil until tender, about 13 minutes.
• Drain rice and transfer to large bowl; set aside.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F.
• Meanwhile, heat 12 inch heavy bottomed skillet over medium high heat until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; add oil and swirl to coat.
• Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add ground beef and cook, breaking beef into small pieces with spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant about 30 seconds.
• Transfer mixture to bowl with rice; stir in tomatoes, 1 cup cheese, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir together ketchup and reserved tomato juice in small bowl.
• Place peppers cut side up in 9 inch square baking dish.
• Using soup spoon, divide filling evenly among peppers.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons ketchup mixture over each filled pepper and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of remaining cheese.
• Bake until cheese is browned and filling is heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve immediately.