Stuffed Yellow Peppers With Spicy Swiss Chard And Scallion Pilaf Recipes

Steps:

• Wash the peppers thoroughly. Make a circular incision around the stem to remove it. Once stem has been removed, remove seeds, and rinse the inside of the pepper. Discard seeds and stems and set peppers aside.
• In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and saute onion until translucent.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion and butter mixture with the ground beef and mix well by hand. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste. Slowly pour in the rice, while mixing by hand. Mix thoroughly.
• Stuff the meat and rice mixture into the peppers. Coat the bottom of 1 or 2 large pots with oil. Place the stuffed peppers into the pot(s) leaving a 2 inch space at the top of the pot. Pour in tomato juice until peppers are covered. If there is leftover meat mixture, form into balls and add to the tomato juice.
• Heat on low for 2 to 3 hours. Stir every 20 to 45 minutes. Juice will reduce to a thick sauce. You can tell that the peppers are done when they are splitting at the sides.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°. In a medium saucepan, cover the rice with the water and bring to a boil.
• Cover the saucepan and cook the rice over low heat until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the rice stand for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, bring 1/2 inch of water to a boil. Add the Swiss chard and cook over high heat until tender, about 2 minutes.
• Drain the chard and let cool, then squeeze dry and coarsely chop.
• In the skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the scallions and garlic and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the turmeric, cumin, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato and cook, stirring, until the liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add the currants and chopped Swiss chard, cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the lemon juice and rice. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
• Cut the tops off the peppers and reserve. Scoop out the seeds and ribs. Spoon the rice filling into the peppers and replace the tops.
• Pour the broth into a shallow baking dish that will hold the peppers snugly. Stand the stuffed peppers in the broth.
• Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the peppers are tender. Serve the stuffed peppers warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Place the couscous and boiling water in a large bowl, cover and let the couscous sit for 15 minutes.
• Fluff the couscous with a fork, then let it cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, slice the tops off the whole peppers.
• Core, seed, wash and drain the peppers.
• If necessary, slice a little off the bottoms of the peppers so they will sit on a plate without falling over.
• Combine the diced peppers, scallions, zucchini and cooled couscous in a large mixing bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, olive oil and dill and mix well.
• Pour the dressing over the couscous mixture and toss to coat.
• Spoon one-sixth of the couscous mixture into each cored pepper.
• Cover the peppers with plastic wrap and chill until needed.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Choose 12 large chard leaves (each should be about 10 inches long and 5 inches wide) or 24 smaller leaves; set aside. Coarsely chop enough of the remaining leaves to make 4 1/2 cups; reserve remaining leaves for another use. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add a pinch of salt. Blanch whole leaves, 1 at a time, until tender and bright green, about 5 seconds. Lay flat on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain.
• Melt butter with oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, scallions, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add chopped chard, and cook, stirring occasionally, until chard has wilted, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a medium bowl, and add pine nuts; let stand until cool. Stir in rice, cheeses, and breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place a blanched leaf facedown on a work surface. Cut out thickest part of stalk, about one-third of the way up leaf; slightly overlap the cut ends. If using smaller leaves, overlap 2 leaves so they are about 10 by 5 inches. Spoon 1/3 cup filling about one-third of the way up leaf. Fold bottom of leaf over mixture. Fold in sides. Roll to enclose filling completely, creating a 3-by-2-inch bundle. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
• Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Tent with foil. Bake until heated through, about 15 minutes. Spoon warm sauce onto plates; serve 2 or 3 bundles per plate.