Description
Mom’s stuffed bell peppers combine hearty ground beef, rice, and aromatic spices in a classic comfort dish. Colorful peppers packed with savory filling promise a satisfying meal that brings family together at the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 to 1.25 lbs ground beef (ground chuck, 16% fat)
- 4 to 6 bell peppers (red, yellow, or green), 4 large or 6 medium
- 1.5 to 2 cups cooked white rice
- 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 6 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1.5 tsps dried basil
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp dry summer savory or thyme
- 0.5 tsp ground marjoram or 2 tsps fresh, chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Paprika, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 175 degrees Celsius, positioning the rack in the middle. Steam bell peppers vertically over boiling water for 10 minutes to soften and reduce cooking duration.
- Mixing Filling: Combine ground beef, cooked rice, basil, marjoram, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Blend ingredients thoroughly to create a uniform, aromatic mixture.
- Stuffing Peppers: Slice pepper tops and remove seeds. Meticulously fill each pepper with the meat-rice blend, ensuring a generous but not overflowing portion. Arrange peppers upright in a ceramic baking dish.
- Seasoning: Drizzle extra virgin olive oil across and around the peppers. Sprinkle paprika over the surface to enhance color and introduce a subtle warm flavor profile.
- Roasting: Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven. Roast for 35-50 minutes, monitoring until the meat’s internal temperature reaches 71 degrees Celsius, ensuring complete and safe cooking.
- Serving: Allow peppers to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven. Plate with a side of ketchup for those desiring an additional flavor dimension.
Notes
- Steaming Secrets: Pre-steaming peppers softens them and cuts down overall baking time, creating perfectly tender vessels for your filling.
- Meat Temperature Matters: Always ensure ground beef reaches 71°C (160°F) internally to guarantee safe consumption and prevent foodborne illnesses.
- Seasoning Balancing: Fresh herbs like basil and marjoram elevate the dish’s flavor profile, adding depth beyond standard salt and pepper.
- Oil and Spice Enhancement: Drizzling extra virgin olive oil and sprinkling paprika not only adds color but introduces subtle layers of richness and warmth to the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg