Mexican Stuffed Peppers

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SERVES FOUR
PREP TIME: 15 MINS
COOK TIME: 45 MINS

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Ingredients

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FOR THE CAPSICUMS

1 RED CAPSICUM PER PERSON, CROWN AND CORE

CRACK SALT & PEPPER

DRIZZLE EVOO 

FOR THE BEEF FILLING

500G PREMIUM BEEF MINCE (SUB COOKED LENTIL FOR VEGETARIAN)

1 1/2 CUPS COOKED BLACK RICE (SUB ANY OTHER RICE OF CHOICE) 

1 RED ONION, DICED

3 GARLIC CLOVES, MINCED

1 CHILLI, DICED

1 ZUCCHINI, GRATED

300G DICED TOMATOES 

2 TBSP TOMATO PASTE

JUICE OF 1 LEMON 

1 TBSP EVOO

CRACK SALT & PEPPER

3 TSP DRIED OREGANO 

2 TSP CUMIN

2 TSP PAPRIKA

1/2 CUP DICED SPRING ONION & CORIANDER (OPTIONAL) 

1 TBSP GRATED CHEESE PER CAPSICUM, I USED MOZZARELLA 

TO SERVE

LEMON WEDGES

TORN CORIANDER LEAVES

PICKLED RED ONION (OPTIONAL)

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Utensils

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BAKING TRAY

SHARP KNIVES

GARLIC MINCER

RICE COOKER OR MEDIUM SAUCEPAN FOR RICE

MEDIUM TO LARGE FRYPAN

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Method

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1. USE A RICE COOKER TO COOK BLACK RICE OR BOIL OVER THE STOVE WITH 2 1/2 CUPS WATER VIA ABSORPTION METHOD. 

2. PREHEAT OVEN TO 180 DEGREES FAN FORCED. AFTER CUTTING THE CROWNS OF THE CAPSICUM AND USING YOUR FINGERS TO REMOVE CORE/SEEDS, PLACE IN A BAKING TRAY, DRIZZLING WITH OLIVE OIL AND A CRACK OF SALT & PEPPER. BAKE FOR 15 MINUTES OR UNTIL SLIGHTLY CARAMELISED. REMOVE FROM OVEN AND SET ASIDE.

3. PREPARE BEEF FILLING INGREDIENTS AND THEN HEAT A FRY PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT. 

4. ADD A TABLESPOON OF EVOO BEFORE YOUR RED ONION, GARLIC AND CHILLI, SAUTÉING FOR A FEW MINUTES OR UNTIL THE ONION BEGINS TO SWEAT. ADD YOUR TOMATO PASTE, COOKING THIS OFF FOR A MINUTE OR TWO UNTIL FRAGRANT AND THE COLOUR DEEPENS.

5. ADD YOUR MINCE, USING A SPOON TO BREAK IT UP AND COAT WITH TOMATO PASTE. ADD YOUR SPICES, TOSSING THROUGH, FOLLOWED BY DICED TOMATOES AND LEMON JUICE.

6. LASTLY ADD YOUR GRATED ZUCCHINI, FOLLOWED BY COOKED RICE AND TOSSING THROUGH FOR AN EVEN DISTRIBUTION. SIMMER FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO REDUCE EXCESS LIQUID FROM THE DICED TOMATOES. TURN OFF HEAT AND TOSS THROUGH 1/2 CUP OF CORIANDER AND SPRING ONION (IF USING). 

7. TURN YOUR CAPSICUMS UPSIDE DOWN OVER THE SINK TO REMOVE EXCESS LIQUID. ADD SPOONFULS OF FILLING TO EACH CAPSICUM UNTIL COMPLETELY STUFF. REPEAT WITH REMAINING CAPSICUMS. 

8. FINISH EACH WITH A TABLESPOON OF GRATED CHEESE BEFORE PLACING BACK INTO THE BAKING TRAY AND IN THE OVEN FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES (OR UNTIL CHEESE HAS MELTED AND IS GOLDEN). 

9. SERVE WITH LEMON WEDGES, TORN CORIANDER LEAVES AND THE OPTION OF PICKLED ONION (OR AVOCADO SLICES PAIR NICELY TOO!) 

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