Friday, November 5, 2021

Stuffed Peppers - Vegan and Gluten Free

stuffed peppers, vegan, gluten-free


Stuffed peppers are impressive to serve, easy to make, and taste divine. Looking to eat less meat?  This vegan recipe will make a filling side dish ( Thanksgiving??) or you can turn it into a meal by adding the optional walnuts and or chickpeas. All of the ingredients that I use are naturally gluten-free too. 


stuffed peppers, gluten-free, vegan, rice

I was happy to find four beautiful large sweet red peppers at a reasonable price. 


red peppers


red peppers, sliced red peppers

I simply cleaned, washed, and sliced the peppers lengthwise and then made the filling separately, added it to the peppers, and cooked the peppers once they were filled. 

vegan stuffing, gluten-free stuffing,

When the filling was done cooking, I filled the pepper halves and cooked everything in a dutch oven pot until the peppers became soft.

vegan stuffed peppers

Stuffed peppers are always a treat. They are both appealing and delicious.

My mom frequently made stuffed peppers when I was growing up. We lived in New Jersey where farmer's markets were plentiful and locally grown summer produce was cheap. 

I remember the farmer's market in Trenton, NJ. There were about 20 farmers who brought their fare to the market every weekend from all over the state. We were able to get baskets of local tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and  eggplant at a very reasonable price.

The (link) Trenton Farmer's Market is still operating today on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the summer and maybe winter too. It's expanded from strictly produce. The prices have gone up significantly, but the produce is always fresh and local.

Pepper, Red, Vegetable, Green, Healthy

Here is a write up From the Trenton Farmer's Market Website: 
"New Jersey's oldest continuously running farmers market!"

  • "A farmer-owned cooperative since 1939, and located on Spruce Street in Lawrence since 1948, the Trenton Farmers Market is a beloved farmers market filled with a wide selection of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, a smoke shop, Amish meats and poultry, a Polish deli, kielbasa, artisan cheese, baked goods, BBQ, rotisserie chicken, vegan selections, clothing, jewelry, handbags, home goods, essential and CBD oils, hand crafted soaps and body care, vintage sports jerseys, sweets and nuts, donuts, local wine, plus an Amish grocery store.ddddddddd



Stuffed Peppers 

Ingredients:
4 large bell peppers of your choice (red, green, yellow, or orange)
1.5 cups white or brown rice, washed and soaked for 20 minutes
1 tablespoon of organic raisins, soaked for 20 minutes (save water)
1 and 1/2  cup of chopped yellow onions
2 cups of chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
1 cup of sliced mushrooms (any)
2 tbsp tomato paste
Juice of 1 lemon, divided
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon (or more to taste) of thyme
Salt and cracked pepper to taste
Optional: 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and or 1 cup of cooked chick peas.

Add onions to a large rimmed skillet and turn heat to medium. Sauté (without oil) for about 3 minutes stirring to prevent burning. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, raisins with water, and juice of half the lemon. Sauté on a medium-low heat for about 5 minutes stirring and to reduce some liquid. Add rice and seasoning, stir to coat rice completely. Add vegetable broth and cook for about 5 minutes covered on a low flame. Fill each pepper half with filling and transfer to a Dutch Oven type of pan. Add water and squeeze juice of the other half of the lemon over the peppers. Cover and cook on low for about 20 minutes until rice is soft.

Thinking about Thanksgiving? 4 best Thanksgiving side dishes 

Vegan Thanksgiving side dishes

See my post for my (link)  4 best Thanksgiving side dishes  (ratatouille, quinoa and mushroom stuffing, cranberry chutney, and spinach pecan/or seed casserole) 4 
Thanksgiving side dishes


My Notes: 

1. Taste the filling before stuffing the peppers and adjust seasoning to taste. 
2.  My mom used to like to eat the stuffed peppers with some warmed up sauerkraut which she warmed up in the Dutch oven with the peppers. 

3. We sometimes pierce the pepper with a fork in a few places to allow the flavors to mingle with the cooking juice while cooking. 

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16 comments:

  1. They look impressive and moreish. I love the stuffed veggies.

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  2. I love stuffed peppers....always a win-win!.....Abrazotes, Marcela

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  3. I've always thought that peppers were among the most beautiful of vegetables, and your pics reinforce that! I love the one of all the peppers that are both green and orange. My mom used to make stuffed peppers too. So this makes me think of that. And, of course, summer!

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  4. I'm not a fan of cooked peppers bit in sure this filling would be great in marrows as well.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this great recipe and the information about the farmer's market. I always enjoy going to them starting in the spring.

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  6. Your peppers look and sound so good, I haven't made stuffed peppers in ages, such a good meal!
    Jenna

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  7. Love stuffed peppers. Stuffing them with rice allows you to portion your carb intake.

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  8. Even though we eat very few sweet peppers must admit your recipe looks and sounds delicious. On the other hand chilli peppers I like!

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  9. Like your mother, my mother had a favorite stuffed pepper recipe, though hers used green bell peppers: different flavor. I love trying stuffed peppers from different traditions like Israeli and Turkish. The turkish ones have pine nuts and currants. Also a slightly different variety of peppers. Your recipe sounds delicious! Best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Mae,
      My mother always stuffed green peppers too now that I think of it. Funny, I haven't used a green pepper in many many years.

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  10. I absolutely love stuffed peppers, but it's been ages since I've had them. Your gorgeous pictures are reminding me just how delicious they are. I'll have to make your recipe Judee! (And Farmer's Markets are the best. The Trenton Farmer's Market sounds like a particularly good one!)

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  11. Yum! Such a great looking dish, and just loaded with flavor. Pretty, too. Thanks!

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  12. Yum, yum...my 94 year old was just telling me that they had stuffed peppers recently at her assisted living facility. But she complained that there wasn't enough of the stuffing!! This sounds like a great recipe. I haven't made stuffed peppers in a very long time. Will pin this and try it soon!

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  13. We too have our favourite but I loooooove your walnuts suggestion. Must do !

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  14. Stuffed peppers can be so versatile.
    This looks a nice recipe.

    Enjoy your weekend.

    All the best Jan

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  15. Stuffed peppers or especially in winter times stuffed dried peppers are our very common dishes. Your recipe looks very tasty and hearty.

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