[Updated May 9, 2015] This is an updatedversion of the stuffed peppers paleo recipe I first posted over 2 years ago, complete with a new photo that looks a whole lot tastier.
I’ve made a few tweaks to the original recipe I think make it even better. Also in this new version, you can either add cauliflower rice or parboiled white rice to the stuffing mixture. Please note that if you’re following the Whole30 program, only the cauliflower rice is acceptable. Otherwise, you might enjoy the more traditional parboiled rice with this recipe — and there’s more information about white rice and the paleo dietat the bottom of the post.
Stuffed peppers – most of us have made them, eaten them, and maybe haven’t liked them somuch.
I’ve never been that crazy about them myself…until I recently changed up my dear old mom’s recipe from 30 years ago and turned it into an easy and delicious paleo meal.
First off, she used plain old hamburger meat. Personally, I prefer ground turkey (or good grass-fed ground beef) mixed witha little pork sausage for extraflavor and aspicier kick.[av_sidebar widget_area=’Lockerdome’ av_uid=’av-2wjjh4′]
And another thing, mom always served us green stuffed peppers – again not my favorite for this recipe. Red, orange and yellow bell peppersare way better for this dish I think because they’re a littlesweeter than the green ones. And besides, thevibrant colorsmakethis dish all that more appetizing to me. And it gets even more colorful when youchop up thetops of the peppers and addthem tothe stuffing mix…beautiful stuff (haha, get it?)
And while your munching on this delicious and nutritious meal, keep in mind you’re getting a healthy dose of vitamins C & A, along with lots of antioxidants in every colorful bite.
Trust me on this one…this is an easy paleo recipe that rocks!
As you probably know, rice is one of those foods you should typically avoid on thepaleo diet because it’s a grain.I very rarely have it myself, but made an exception for it inthis recipe because I think stuffed peppers need a little rice (there’s a cup total in this recipe)to really tasteawesome. Besides, I tolerate rice very well. You can just as easily makea cauliflower rice instead (here’s my recipe:cauli rice) that’s 100% paleo or just leave it out altogether. And one more thing…you might be surprisedto learn thataccording toa number of paleo authoritieswho’ve donethe research, parboiled white rice (cooked and cooled) can be beneficial to your gut bacteria because it includes resistant starch. I won’t go into a detailed explanationhere, but if you want to find out more there’s a really goodarticle aboutresistant starches posted on Chris Kresser’s site: “How Resistant Starch Will Help to Make You Healthier and Thinner.”Checkit out – you might find the info helpfulin planning your own paleo diet.
Ingredients
- 6-8 bell peppers, tops and seeds removed – reserve tops
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 lb pork sausage
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 jar fire-roasted tomatoes (14 oz), or any other kind you like, liquid drained
- 1 can of tomato sauce (14 oz)
- 1 cup of pre-made parboiled white rice (or paleo cauliflower rice for Whole30 compliance)
- 2 cloves of garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 3 tbs Italian seasoning (OR 1 tbs each of dried oregano, basil & parsley)
- Pinch of chili flakes (add more if you like it spicier)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F
- Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds. Keep tops and chop them (minus the stem) and set the pieces aside
- Chop onion
- Press or mince garlic cloves
- In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion and chopped pepper tops in a little olive oil about 5 minutes until onions are tender, then add the garlic
- In the same saucepan, add ground beef (or turkey) and pork sausage to the mix and cook everything together until the meat is browned
- Next add the fire roasted tomatoes and 14 oz can of tomato sauce to the same saucepan, and stir
- Add dry seasonings and 1 cup of either parboiled rice or cauliflower rice
- Parboil (or microwave) the pepper shells in a pan/bowl with a little water for 3-4 mins – just until slightly softened
- Then in a Pyrex or similar baking dish, spread a little of the sauce across the bottom and set the pepper shells inside
- Taste your stuffing mixture in the saucepan one last time and add any additional salt, pepper and/or chili pepper flakes if needed
- Spoon stuffing mixture into peppers
- Bake about 30-40 minutes at 350º F uncovered to heat through (oven times and temperatures may vary)
- Remove from dish, serve hot, and enjoy!
Notes
Updated May 9, 2015
https://www.paleonewbie.com/tell-your-peppers-to-stuff-it/
For more delicious and easy recipes, visit us at PaleoNewbie.com
Related
FAQs
The peppers need to be par-cooked before filling so that they cook through. Many recipes call for boiling the peppers first, but I prefer to roast them – more flavor and less cleanup!
Can you have peppers on paleo? ›
Fill up your cart with any and all vegetables; from broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and carrots to lettuce, kale, and avocado…the list goes on and on! Of course, any and all fruits are welcome on the paleo diet including apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and more.
Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›
The thing about most stuffed bell pepper recipes is 3that they call for salt in the filling, not for the peppers themselves. Without salt, the peppers are flabby and bland, merely a filling case. With a sprinkle of salt, they transform into a sweet and powerfully savory part of the dish.
Why do my stuffed peppers fall apart? ›
The goal is to tenderize them before they're stuffed and baked, but generally the poor fellas are over-boiled, which results in their tendency to fall apart and, as noted, be flavorless. But peppers can have tons of flavor when given the right treatment. The trick is to roast them at high heat.
How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy? ›
To prevent it from happening, you should try to avoid or reduce excess moisture – here are three of the things you can do:
- Pre-cook Peppers. ...
- Use Leftover Rice. ...
- Save Cheese for the Topping.
How long to boil peppers to soften? ›
To boil bell peppers: Cook peppers, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp-tender. To sauté bell peppers: Heat a skillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add bell peppers and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes.
Are bananas ok on paleo? ›
Many paleo followers wonder if bananas are paleo because of their higher sugar content. They are considered paleo. One medium banana has 113 calories, 2 grams of fiber and 26 grams of carbohydrates. Bananas are an unprocessed, whole food with a good source of potassium.
What seasonings are not paleo? ›
Here's a list of just some of the ingredients that make other seasoning blends not so Paleo friendly:
- Sugar.
- Corn syrup solids.
- Maltodextrin.
- Rice concentrate.
- Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG)
- Wheat, soy or milk contamination.
Are tomatoes ok on paleo? ›
Foods to eat on the paleo diet
Meat: Beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork, and others. Fish and seafood: salmon, trout, haddock, shrimp, shellfish, etc (choose wild-caught if you can) Eggs: may be free-range, pastured, or omega-3 enriched. Vegetables: broccoli, kale, peppers, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc.
What temperature do you bake stuffed peppers? ›
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stir Cheddar cheese into ground beef-rice mixture and spoon mixture into precooked peppers. Set peppers upright in an 8x8-inch baking dish.
Roasted vegetables are thea great option to serve with stuffed peppers. Choose from options such as a spicy hot honey carrots to light and refreshing lemon parmesean zucchini for the perfect stuffed pepper side dish.
Why are my stuffed peppers bitter? ›
In addition to not getting enough water, some other possible causes of bitter peppers are: Ripening: Peppers grow sweeter as they ripen and turn from green to red, orange, yellow, or purple. For the sweetest peppers, be sure they're fully ripe before picking.
How to stop stuffed peppers from being watery? ›
First and foremost, it's essential to precook your peppers. Bell peppers contain more than 90% water, much of which is released during the cooking process. If you cook your stuffed peppers in one fell swoop, that moisture will release and end up in the final dish.
How do you get stuffed peppers to stand up? ›
To easily stuff bell peppers and keep them upright during baking, arrange and then bake them in a Bundt, tube, angel food, or muffin pan (spray with nonstick spray first). The peppers stay upright, freeing your hands for assembly.
Why do we boil the pepper before we bake it? ›
The most common reason to parboil peppers is to soften them ready for stuffing so that they can then be baked in the oven. This recipe for Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers is the perfect example! With baked peppers, the pepper itself should be nice and tender – not crunchy!
Should you boil peppers before roasting? ›
Pre-cooking is the idea of quick-starting the cooking process of your stuffed pepper. Since stuffed peppers can take as long as 45 minutes to bake, shortening that down with a quick boil really helps me out. How to do it? Cut the tops off of your peppers and get them ready for stuffing ().
How long to boil peppers when canning? ›
Fill jars with peppers; add hot, well-mixed oil/pickling solution over peppers, leaving ½-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process half-pints and pints for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath at altitudes of less than 1000 feet. If at an altitude of 1001 to 3000 feet, process for 20 minutes.
How long to boil peppers to rehydrate? ›
Usually 15-30 minutes is enough time to make them pliable, much longer and the flavor begins to weaken. The soaking liquid may have a bitter taste, so it is best to discard soaking liquid, and use a broth or even water to finish the dish.