Bell peppers filled with ground meat, rice, and cheese, carved for a festive Halloween main dish.
# Components:
→ Peppers
01 - 4 large orange or yellow bell peppers
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Filling
03 - 1 pound ground beef or turkey
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
07 - 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
# Method:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - Slice off the tops of the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Carve jack-o'-lantern faces into one side of each pepper using a small sharp knife.
03 - Brush the outside of each pepper lightly with olive oil. Arrange peppers upright in a baking dish.
04 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or turkey until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Add onion and garlic to the meat; cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring until softened.
06 - Stir in cooked rice, diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, mixing thoroughly.
07 - Remove filling from heat and stir in 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
08 - Fill each hollowed pepper with the meat and rice mixture, packing gently. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
09 - Replace the pepper tops and cover the baking dish loosely with foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, until peppers are tender and cheese is melted.
11 - Allow peppers to cool slightly before serving.
