Quinoa Stuffed Red Bell Peppers
Do you ever go to the grocery store to do your weekly shopping trip, but have no clue what you actually want to cook that week? Yeah, that was me this past weekend. I spent a good 15 minutes just wandering around the produce section thinking about what I was going to cook this week. Then I spotted a big basket of bright red bell peppers and I immediately had a craving for stuffed peppers. As usual, I wanted to make them healthy, so instead of using the usual rice, I used my beloved quinoa. These stuffed red peppers were packed full of flavor and my favorite part was that the top layer got all nice and crispy with that melted cheese!
Quinoa Stuffed Red Bell Peppers
Adapted from Vegetarian Times
Serves 6
Ingredients:
– 1 cup uncooked quinoa
– 2 cups water
– 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, drain and reserve liquid
– 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
– 2 garlic cloves, minced
– 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
– 2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
– 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
– 6 red bell peppers
– salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sauce pan, heat 2 cups of water and add quinoa. Let cook for approximately 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed. Set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add onions and garlic and cook for three minutes until onion is translucent and tender. Add diced tomatoes and black beans. Cook for 3 minutes. Add in cooked quinoa and combine with tomato and bean mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Rinse peppers, cut off tops and remove seeds and ribs. Scoop about 3/4 of cup of the quinoa mixture into each pepper and place in a baking dish. Pour liquid from the tomato can into the dish around the peppers. Cover with foil and cook for approximately 40 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle evenly with pepper jack cheese and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle pan drippings over each pepper and serve!
Notes: Want more veggies? Try adding some sauteed mushrooms, spinach, or carrots!
17 Comments on “Quinoa Stuffed Red Bell Peppers”
Oh wow this looks fantastic, what a great recipe! Love your blog and so glad to be a new follower! xoxo
Thank you for stopping by, Kelly! So glad to have you as a new follower and your blogs looks equally as awesome! :)
This looks fabulous! I have been SO curious about quinoa – and hubby loves stuffed peppers!
You have to try it, Ann! It’s really great and such a healthy substitute for anybody trying to reduce their carb intake!
Love quinoa! I am a new reader via Foodbuzz and I love your blog!
So glad you stopped by! Your blog is also really great! :)
I must try this. I made quinoa for the first time this year. I also made stuffed peppers for the first time this year. I was not creative enough to combine them though. Lol! I have to try this. I like how quinoa has a nutty taste. It is really interesting. You did a great recipe here. Love it.
It’s definitely a must try, Kim! This was actually only my 2nd try with stuffed peppers, but I am trying to cut out carbs as much as possible and quinoa is the perfect substitute! I also love the nutty taste and texture of quinoa and have found you can sub it for rice with almost any dish!
I’ve never tried stuffing a pepper with quinoa! this must have tasted super fun!
Thanks for dropping by my blog!
It was great, Richa! Thanks for visiting! :)
I adore the stuffed bell peppers…never tried them with quinoa though. It looks so delectable.
You should give it a try some time, Angie! It’s a tasty and healthier substitute for rice! :)
I can never have enough quinoa recipes I loved stuffed pepper this is a brillant idea for using it! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No problem, Claudia! Quinoa and I are becoming very good friends! I will try to post even more recipes soon! If you like this one, you should see my post for breakfast quinoa!
The stuffed peppers look delicious! We eat them often and see that you made them quinoa is awesome. I’m starting to use it more in dishes.
Me too! I find that it can substitute for most rice dishes!
What a delicious vegetarian dish! I really appreciate seeing great vegetarian options. Thanks for sharing :)