Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

I love the internet.  It has been a lifesaver during this diet.  I have found so much information and so many recipes and blogs that have all proved very helpful.  Tonight I made some quinoa-stuffed peppers (sans the cheese on mine) for David and I.  The peppers were not the only ones stuffed, holy cow!  I made a whole pepper for each of us because I thought they looked small. Not so.  I cut this recipe in half and made some minor adjustments.  They were quite delicious and quite healthy with some hidden veggies.  Try it!

Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

 Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1 Med. onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 ribs of celery, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. cumin
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• opt.  I added a dash or so of cayenne to spice it up
• 10 oz pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (I used fresh!)
• 2 15 oz. can diced tomatoes drained, liquid reserved (I skipped this)
• 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained (I used this much for 2 peppers)
• 3/4 C. quinoa
• 3 large carrots, grated (Food processor to the rescue!!)
• 1 1/2 C. grated cheese, divided
• 4 large bell peppers, halved lengthwise, ribs removed

Directions:

1. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add cumin, cayenne, and garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in spinach and drained tomatoes. Cook 5 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
2. Stir in black beans, quinoa, carrots, and 2 cups water. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender. Stir in 1 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour liquid from tomatoes in bottom of baking dish.
4. Fill each bell pepper half with heaping 3/4-cup quinoa mixture, and place in baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake 1 hour. Uncover, and sprinkle each pepper with 1 Tbs. remaining cheese. Bake 15 minutes more, or until tops of stuffed peppers are browned. Let stand 5 minutes. Transfer stuffed peppers to serving plates, and drizzle each with pan juices before serving. 

Enjoy!

I really need to stop taking pictures with my ipod.  yuck.

 

*Cherise