ROASTED BELL PEPPERS STUFFED WITH QUINOA

This was not tonight's dinner, but here by request by two of my three faithful readers.

( thank you! )

I made this a while back and it was great.  As you can see, there are a lot of ingredients.  I have also made a variety of this dish, using fewer ingredients.

Make your quinoa, then sautee some veggies, anything really.  Par bake the peppers. Stuff them and finish off in the oven.  I have also put some grated cheese on top of the peppers at the end of the baking time.  Anything is better with cheese, right? 

So here is an actual recipe to get started with.....Enjoy

Recipe from The Whole Food Market Cookbook

ROASTED BELL PEPPERS STUFFED WITH QUINOA

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for oiling the pan 
1 red onion, chopped 
1/2 pound sliced mushrooms 
1 cup chopped carrots 
7 bell peppers (1 cored, seeded and chopped; tops removed and reserved from remaining 6 then cored and seeded) 
1/2 cup chopped parsley 
1/4 pound baby spinach 
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin 
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and cooked according to package directions (Learn to Cook: Quinoa) 
Salt and pepper to taste 
1/2 cup roasted, salted cashews

Method

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally until transparent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until softened, 4 to 5 minutes more. Add carrots and chopped peppers, cook until just softened, then add parsley and spinach (in batches, if needed). Let spinach wilt then stir in cinnamon, cumin and cooked quinoa and toss gently to combine. Add salt, pepper and cashews and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Set aside to let filling cool until just warm. 

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9- x 13-inch baking pan with oil then set aside. 

Divide quinoa mixture evenly among remaining 6 bell peppers, gently packing it down and making sure to fully fill each pepper. Top each pepper with its reserved top then arrange them upright in prepared pan. Cover snugly with foil and bake, checking halfway through, until peppers are tender and juicy and filling is hot throughout, about 1 hour. Transfer to plates and serve.