Beef and Rice Stuffed Peppers




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Ingredients

  • 6 green bell peppers (or choose a combination of colors)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed and minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90/10)
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain rice
  • Shredded mild Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup), optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. Cut the tops off of the bell peppers and rinse them under cold water; remove seeds and cut away the white ribs, which might be bitter. Chop the edible part of tops and set aside. Place the peppers in a large pot and cover with salted water.
  3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  4. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until oil is hot and the butter is foamy. Sauté the chopped bell pepper (from the tops), chopped onion, and chopped celery for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
  5. Add the (undrained) canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir to blend; add ground beef, cooked rice, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture. Mix well.
  7. Heat the oven to 350 F.
  8. Stuff the peppers loosely with the ground beef mixture and place them in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Pour the remaining tomato mixture over the stuffed peppers.
  9. Bake the peppers for about 45 minutes, or until the meat mixture is thoroughly cooked.

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