Irresistible stuffed peppers

You may be getting bored with quarantine cooking, so here’s a dish very few can resist – stuffed peppers with quinoa! It’s tasty, and full of health benefits including improved immunity, weight loss and digestive health. Bonus is that it’s gluten-free (I almost typed guilt-free!) and vegan. It’s a long weekend in Canada, so it’s a perfect time for me to make these. Have a wonderful weekend everyone and long weekend to my fellow Canadians!

Peppers stuffed with quinoa

• Total time: Approximately 1 hour, 25 minutes, Cook time: 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, Prep time: 15 minutes
• Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 4 large red bell peppers
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 1+1/4 cup water
• 540g strained tomatoes
• ½ cup chopped almonds or walnuts
• ¼ cup fresh mint
• ¼ cup fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 diced chili pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.
• Cut the tops off the bell peppers. Remove the seeds and scrape out the flesh inside the peppers with a spoon. Set aside.
• Mix quinoa, 1 cup of the strained tomatoes, ½ of the basil and the water in a saucepan and bring to boil.
• Set heat to lowest setting, cover saucepan and simmer until liquid is absorbed, approximately 15 minutes.
• Sauté the almonds or walnuts in a pan for a few minutes; don’t let them burn. Set aside in a large bowl.
• Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and cook the onions and garlic for approximately 3 minutes. Add to a large bowl.
• When the quinoa is ready, add it to the bowl,  as well as the mint, the remaining pasta sauce and salt and pepper.
• Divide the quinoa mixture evenly among the bell peppers, fully fill each pepper. Put the top back on the pepper.
• Arrange the peppers upright in a parchment paper-lined dish for the oven, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Approximate nutritional information for 1 serving (Based on brands and amounts used in the recipe)

• Calories: 400
• Fat: 20g
• Carbs: 35g
• Protein: 14g

Check out some more of my recipes if you need some inspiration!