By Ana Maria Salaverry, community health worker
Recipe of the month: Stuffed Red Bell Peppers
How about a healthy, tasty meal for the holidays that is also colorful and bright? We invite you to try these sweet and filling stuffed peppers alone or with a side dish. We wish you a wonderful holiday season, filled with your favorite foods!
Ingredients:
5 large red bell peppers (as evenly sized as possible)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium white onion, diced
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground chicken
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
1 medium carrot, grated
1 tbsp. soy sauce or tamari sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
5 oz. crumbled feta (plus a little more for topping)
1/4 cup pitted olives
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 bunch of parsley, finely chopped
Cooking instructions:
- Heat the oven to 375° F.
- Use a paring knife to cut a wide circle around each bell pepper stem. Remove and discard any seeds and membranes from the interior.
- Warm the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat until it simmers.
- Add the onion and cook until it starts to become clear, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Push the onion mixture to the side of the pan, reduce the heat to medium low, and add the ground chicken. Cook until the chicken is completely done.
- Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the cooked quinoa, grated carrot, olives, dried cranberries, soy or tamari sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring to combine until the quinoa is hot.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Add the feta and parsley, then stir to mix the ingredients together. (Leave a little of the parsley and feta aside to add at the end.)
- Evenly divide the filling among the peppers, packing them full, and arranging them upright on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cook for 20 minutes in the oven.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the top with a little more of the parsley and feta.
Serve and enjoy!
Tip: Add a mixed green salad with a vinaigrette dressing to round out your meal.