Exploded (Un-Stuffed) Bell Peppers

Submitted by chiclet

"Don't let the title frighten you! The inside of your oven will be fine:)! As I surveyed the contents of my kitchen the other day, I saw all the fixin's for stuffed peppers, but I wanted something heartier. Using Joe Bob Mac's recipe #41118 as my inspiration, I came up with this simple, tasty casserole. It is vegan, but regular sausages and cheese can certainly be used."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb spicy italian-style soy sausage, crumbled
• 2 cups diced bell peppers (red and green is nice)
• 1 cup brown rice, NOT instant
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 4 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
• 1⁄2 cup diced red onion
• 1⁄3 cup pasta sauce
• 1⁄2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
• 1 cup shredded soy mozzarella cheese (optional)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Warm oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add soy sausage, and cook until it begins to brown.
4. Add peppers, onions, garlic and rice; sautee until veggies begin to soften and rice browns slightly, adding a little water if necessary.
5. Add vegetable broth and pasta sauce; bring to a boil then simmer 15 minutes.
6. Stir in parsley and crushed red peppers; pour into a 2 quart casserole dish and top with mozzarella, if using.
7. Bake covered 45-50 minute (if you use cheese, you may want to uncover for the last 10 minute so the cheese will brown).

Reviews

[Elmotoo]

Can I rate this higher??? This is an awesome recipe!! I'd like to say I'd make it often but there's so many recipes, so little time as it is, lol! I made this w/sweet sausage (oops) in an stovetop to oven to table pot which worked great - only 1 dish to clean! For the pasta sauce, I added some basil & oregano to 1/3 tomato sauce. I doubled the veggies, meat & cheese but not the rice. I'm glad I did because otherwise it would have been disproportionally ricey. We're eating it, thinking of all the variations - different meat/soy alternatives, vegetables, etc. An easy recipe to double & add/edit with great results. A definite keeper! Thanks for submitting it, Chiclet!

 

[rsnelling42]

This was very good. I doubled the recipe, but used 1.5 cups of rice (instead of 2), and it was still much to ricey. Next time I'll double the whole recipe, use 3/4 c rice and 2 c broth, and triple the sauce. Delicious dinner, but certainly does not equate to the taste of stuffed peppers.