Families looking for a satisfying and nutritious meal can turn to a delightful recipe for stuffed peppers. This dish combines a variety of fresh ingredients, making it ideal for a Sunday lunch.
Ingredients for Stuffed Peppers
To prepare the stuffed peppers, the following ingredients are needed:
– 8 small peppers (bell peppers or any preferred variety)
– 200 grams of rice
– 1 onion
– 1 carrot
– 1 zucchini (or a small pumpkin)
– 2 cloves of garlic
– 3 tablespoons of olive oil
– 1 teaspoon of dried herbs (such as oregano, basil, or thyme)
– Salt and pepper to taste
– A bunch of fresh parsley, finely chopped
For the sauce:
– 500 milliliters of tomato juice or pureed tomatoes
– 1 teaspoon of sugar
– 1 teaspoon of flour (optional, for thickening)
– A splash of olive oil
– Salt to taste
Preparation Steps
Begin by heating the olive oil in a pan and sautéing the finely chopped onion and garlic until they soften. Next, add the grated carrot and zucchini, cooking them briefly until they are tender. Incorporate the rice and dried herbs, stirring the mixture. Add just enough water to combine the ingredients, allowing the rice to swell slightly without cooking it completely.
Cut the tops off the peppers, removing the seeds, and fill them with the prepared rice mixture. Arrange the stuffed peppers upright in a pot or a deep baking dish.
For the sauce, gently heat the tomato juice with a bit of olive oil, sugar, and seasonings. If a thicker sauce is preferred, add the flour while stirring. Pour this sauce over the stuffed peppers.
Cooking can be done either by covering the pot and simmering on low heat for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, or by baking in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius for about 45 minutes. The peppers should become tender and the sauce should thicken.
Serve the stuffed peppers alongside a fresh salad made of cabbage and carrot, boiled potatoes, or whole-grain bread for a wholesome meal. Enjoy this comforting dish that is sure to please the entire family.
