I spent six hours on a train yesterday to and from my old stomping grounds, Washington D.C. I lived there for six years and haven’t been back in just as many, so you can imagine how crazy it was to only see twenty minutes of it, from a cab. With every turn, I jumped, remembering how we used to hang out legs out from that window above Dupont Circle over the sign for what used to be a hair salon, or that turn that always unnerved me to make from California to Connecticut and that block on Massachusetts Avenue not far from NPR where a hooker once flashed me everything as I gripped the steering wheel and willed the light to turn green already, PLEASE.
It was like confetti flitting around in a fan, all these pieces I had entirely forgotten about, like sanitized subways and the escalator at the zoo that is no less than a mile long, but others I couldn’t stitch together before we waded through the traffic to the next block. There are people who always remember things badly–high school, that terrible layover where we tried to fix our hangover in an airport bar, some years in a city others couldn’t wait to leave–but its all rose-colored glasses for me. Things are always best the way I remember them, which sometimes comes in handy when I’m in a pissy mood, or you know, trying to figure out what to eat for dinner.
We loved these stuffed red peppers when I made them last year, and like my last recipe refresh, all of these foods are actually around in the farmers markets right now, unlike the first time around. Alex picked up these mega-huge red peppers (hoping I’d pickle them again but, no, haha) on Friday, and they were screaming to be stuffed. Unlike the last time I made these stuffed peppers with couscous, summer squash, cherry tomatoes and feta, I only had a smidgen of filling leftover, leading me to suggest that if you make this and you only have regularly-sized bell peppers, you’ll probably want five instead of four. I also used a commenters suggestion to prebake the pepper shells rather than boiling a big pot of water. It was a great suggestion, and saved at least one dish. Although I didn’t do this, it also occurred to me that this would be really delicious with some uncased, broken-up sausage sautéed in with the vegetables. Either way, it was exactly as delicious, filling and wholesome as we remembered it, and very much a one-serving meal.
Lastly, I think one of the greatest things about this dish is that it reheats really well, so if it is just the two of you, you automatically cook two dinners instead of one, which is quite brilliant if you’re going to be out of town all day and itching for a home-cooked meal when you get back. It works even better if you eat it, and not, say, a brownie for dinner instead when you get home at 9:30 p.m. But let’s not get crazy, okay?
One year ago: Fougasse Provencale and Rustic White Bread
Couscous and Feta-Stuffed Peppers
Adapted from Epicurious
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1 1/4 cups fat-free chicken or vegetable broth
2/3 cup couscous
4 extra-large or 5 large bell peppers, mixed colors
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 oz zucchini, quartered lengthwise then sliced across thinly
6 oz yellow squash, quartered lengthwise then sliced across thinly
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
15 oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 oz crumbled feta cheese (about 1 cup)
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. Bring the broth to a boil in a saucepan, add the couscous, cover the pan and remove it from the heat. Cut the stems and top half inch off the bell peppers and scoop out the seeds and membranes. Place peppers upright in a baking dish and roast them for 15 minutes or so, until they soften, then remove them from the oven until the filling is ready. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet. Add onion, zucchini, yellow squash, fennel seeds, oregano, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Remove from heat and stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas and tomato paste. Using a fork, scrape the couscous into the skillet and toss with the vegetables. Stir in the crumbled feta. Fill peppers with the couscous mixture. Bake 15 minutes. Serve immediately.
YUMMY! This is on my list for this weekend. I’m always looking for recipes that are less meat but hearty enough for my family to enjoy!
Have you tried these with israeli couscous? They are even more filling! If you have tiny peppers, it’s better to stick with the standard smaller variety. But when the mega peppers come out to market, it’s perfect!
Brilliant idea to pre-roast the peppers rather than having to boil or steam them. I’ll try this technique on my favorite polenta & corn stuffed peppers while we still have fresh corn. Thanks for the tip!
Preroasting? That’s just brilliant! I haven’t made stuffed peppers in AGES. We used to make them at home with ground up turkey and rice and seasonings with a generous heaping of sour cream on top (of course, Russian food without sour cream?) – but I’ve been craving a vegetarian version too!
Were you surprised by how suburban-mall-like Dupont Circle has become? We haven’t been here five years yet and are constantly surprised/disappointed when a local haunt folds only to be replaced by a chain store.
Oh man. Oh, man. Just looking at these peppers has me drooling and forgetting the hummus and pitas in front of me. Consider your recipe bumped to the top of the queue!
I’ve been to D.C. twice. The second time sucked even more than the first time, if that is even possible. I’ve never been back. Thank God.
Anyway, those stuffed pepper things look AMAZING and I am SOOOO hungry right now. Anyway, maybe I will try cooking them? Ah ah Aha hahaha I know, that’s funny, I use my oven for storage.
Any tips on what to do with the extra filling?
I thought this was good, but not great. I picked it on the strength of the reviews and because it looked like it would come together quickly, which it did. It seemed a bit dry. I made it as written except that I only used zucchini and not yellow squash, because I didn’t have any. I have made many other vegetarian dishes from this site that I liked more.
Aren’t the peppers glorious this year? I’ve been stuffing poblanos, but should probably make some stuffed bells before they’re gone. And amen to adding sausage!
I used to live in DC as well! I haven’t been back in ages but I’m hoping I’ll get to go soon. Its such a unique place…
Anyway–I love the stuffed peppers. I tried to make a stuffed pepper once with terrible results but I love the idea–I’ll give this recipe a try!
I love DC! I can’t wait to go back. I only got to spend one day there but it’s a day I’ll never forget. Also, I ran into my ex-boyfriend at the Air & Space Museum – that’s another story.
I’m not discussing the peppers. Jocelyn can eat them all on my behalf.
Oh my goodness – this sounds like a re-mix of your ratatouille, which I make two or three times monthly (and usually fight the impulse for more). I’ll be adding this to next week’s menu!
Next month I’m headed to your area for my one-year anniversary, and I was hoping you and (and neighboring Smitten posters) could give a couple of restaurant recommendations. Please! We love to eat but will be confined to Zagat’s instead of local color – horrors – if we don’t get some authentic New Yorker assistance. I know I can trust your tastes!
jennbec — No, but it sounds wonderful. I can’t get enough of the stuff. I am sure the couscous could also be swapped with quinoa, barley or even brown rice. The possibilities are endless.
Lisa — Wow, polenta and corn sounds awesome. I’d love the recipe!
radish — Yours sound a lot like my mother-in-laws, which are delicious and I should make them again soon. She shreds parsnips in with the carrots, and I think that flavor is what makes it sing.
sprite — Yes. Well, a lot of the city, from what I’d seen. It’s weird because when I lived there, it aggravated the heck out of me that I had to leave the Beltway to buy Old Navy yoga pants, yet of course the flipside is big box stores everywhere. It’s great to see the city thriving, though. Perhaps they can work out that whole taxation without representation thing next!
Jocelyn — Don’t undermine your cooking prowess, you could totally pull it off! Or have Molly help you! She’s a great cook, and she’d make it awesome and spicy.
Lisa (Homesick Texan) — Gah, I still haven’t grilled stuffed poblanos this summer, and I don’t know what I’m waiting for. I bet your recipe kicks butt.
Sara — Good call! They are my favorite ingredients. Which reminds me that I owe you guys a post on all the things to do with your leftover ratatouille, should you have any. What kind of food do you want when you’re here?
I currently live in DC (have for about 3 years) and the city has definitely changed — some for the better, some for the worse. The U St area (which was uber sketchy even 7 years ago) has exploded with restaurants and shops, almost all of which are independent, which is refreshing. But I digress… These peppers look fab!
Why were you only in DC for 20 minutes? What did you go for?
The only time I’ve seen DC is from the perimeter sometime around 3am on the 11 hour drive from North Carolina to Connecticut. The memory of that trip is a jumbled mess of drooling on the backseat, playing the same CD 5 times in a row, and trying not to touch any surface in the women’s bathroom. I hope one day to replace that memory with something better. Anything would be better.
These peppers look great! Yummm
These peppers look and sounds fantastic. I am making them tonight! Three cheers for a simple but delicious vegetarian recipe. Keep ’em coming!
I am — as the moniker suggests — in love with DC and all it has to offer. Next time you come back, stay for a bit longer, and I’ll take you out on a tapas crawl!
mmm, this would be perfect now that i can turn the oven on again, but summer squash are GONE in this part of the country. i miss them.
Bah, I have to take the train to dc all the time for work, and I am queen of Amtrak hell. There and back in one day sounds painful.
I have to say I don’t love stuffed peppers, but there are a few exceptions, most specifically the indian ones, shimla mirch, so spicy good.
Last time I was in DC (where I visit frequently), I discovered the fabulous Dupont Circle farmers’ market. Oooh, I found the best yogurt there! Will accumulate the ingredients for these lovely stuffed peppers at my local market this weekend.
I’m so excited to get a base recipe for this! This week I had planned on doing a stuffed pepper with couscous and haven’t yet! Looks so good.
mmm feta
Yum this recipe looks fantastic! Our daughter just started her first semester in DC…and she is BEYOND! She’s been exploring the city as well as going to school and loving every minute. My sister went to school in DC and never came back. We’re wondering if the same will happen for our daughter. Guess we must wait to see how things play out!
My DBF has been subtly hinting that he’d love me to make stuffed peppers ever since we met, so I guess I don’t have any excuse now. I think I’ll take your tip on uncased sausage meat, and pick up some of the amazing Toulouse-style sausages the organic butcher at my local farmer’s market carries. I’ll let you know how they turn out!
Hey Deb,
I love your website, especially your photography. Your food always looks fresh and the pictures look very crisp.I am curious about the camera model that you use. Would you mind sharing?
Leah.
Jessica — I was there for work. I only saw 20 minutes of it from the cab back to the train station.
DC365 — Is Jaleo still good? I LOVED that place when I lived in DC. In fact, the last time I was there, a friend told me he’d be leaving NYC for one year and his rent-controlled apartment was available for sublease. Guess who took it, on the spot?
Mercedes — I had braced myself for such a terrible experience, remembering how unreliable they were back in the day, but (shockingly) everything ran on time. I, on the other hand, was retarded: I forgot my phone and brought no reading material or offline work because I assumed (ha!) that there would be some sort of internet connectivity on the train. So I took a nap. I think I snored. Nobody said anything.
leah — My camera information is over here. However, it’s actually in the shop right now so we used my dad’s Canon XTi for this, with our macro and a 430EX speedlite flash. Thanks dad!
I made these last night… I had bell peppers to use up but no chickpeas, but they were great. I have used many a recipe for stuffed peppers and my boyfriend said that these were his favorite of all I have made. He is spoiled with good dinners and picky about food so this is a big compliment! Thanks for the recipe.
Just get it back to me for foliage season :-)
Thanks for helping us out with travel nourishment, Deb! We’re simple folks, so we’re not really looking for anything either insanely expensive or hoity-toity. Basically we just want good food in the city – breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations (or any advice on stuff we just should not miss out on while we’re visiting) would be so, so appreciated!
This recipe sounds wonderful and I’m eager to try it with quinoa in lieu of the couscous. The textures and tastes would be similar, but with a huge boost in the nutritional value. Quinoa has become my new favorite grain/seed. This recipe is perfect for it! Thanks!
Great website! I have a food blog of my own, The Rocktucky Chef. I just blogged about your site, the great recipes, and wondeful use of photos. Good work. Thanks,
Gregory
very nice idea! i think i’ll try with lentils insted of chickpeas. Let’s see next week…
Deb – Jaleo is still good, and within walking distance are Andres’ three other joints: Zaytinya (Greek and Turkish tapas), Oyamel (Mexican tapas) and Cafe Atlantico (South American tapas). So when I said crawl, I meant it!
Gah. I know Alex knows how lucky he is to have found his match in someone who is also as good with food as you are. As a political scientist who knows how to slice and heat, and is in a very satisfying and restaurant-heavy relationship with a fellow political scientist who can thaw and dress, I believe I can speak for both of us here: we are jealous. Foodies who can’t cook are a bit hypocritical, right? Or are we like critics of virtually anything else, (supposedly) highly skilled in the ability to discern quality product, yet unable or unwilling to create it ourselves? We find solace in our ability to find the best hidden restaurants, yet not so secretly wish we had your aptitude.
You give us ideas. Maybe one of us will try to recreate this… I’m sure the other will be kind enough to pick up an alternate meal on the way home.
Thanks for excellent and engaging food writing!
I made these peppers yesterday – substituting couscous for quinoa and adding some mild italian sausage meat – and they are amazing – beautiful and yummy!
Thank you so much for inspiring so many of my dinners!
I made these yesterday! YUM! I added some Greek olives and left out the chick peas. But with fresh tomatoes, last of the summer from my garden I am afraid, they turned out great. Very tasty.
i just tried the recipe with some slight variations – i didn’t have some of the ingredients but couldn’t wait to try it! so no chickpeas nor feta, substituted thyme and rosemary (dried) for the fennel and oregano, dark green peppers instead of the yellow sqaush, and light green peppers for the red peppers. amazing! can’t wait to get to the store to get the real ingredients! love the blog!
I love your site! I made these tonight and they were delicious! I added the sausage and made it gluten free, so no couscous. but rice worked nice:) Our oven is broke so I made them on the grill, which worked great and added a nice flavor and some pretty grill marks. I wrapped the peppers in foil and put them on the grill while I made the stuffing. Then after I filled them I put them back on the grill. I rolled the foil up and set it on either side of them, so they wouldn’t fall over. I think the grill is my new favorite way to make stuffed peppers. Who knew?
Thanks again!
I recently stumbled upon your blog. So, while poking around I found this recipe and made it for dinner tonight. I went with 5 peppers and had left over filling. Dinner was delicious.
Deb you are so amazing! I made this a couple of nights ago and my husband and I were licking our fingers. We changed up the cheese since we are not feta fans but anyway…I dedicated my blog to you! :) Thanks for making such a big impression!
http://cookingwithteresa.blogspot.com/2009/03/couscous-and-jalapeno-monterrey-jack.html
Found these 2 years late – made ’em with quinoa cooked in vegetable broth, goat farmers’ cheese, shiitake mushrooms, apple cider vinegar – I have a wife who has cancer and is beating it with all-alkaline foods, but she’s also Greek, and stuffed peppers (peperies gemisthes) are one of her favorites from her grandmother. The technique is completely different, so I had to cook these without her seeing, but the smile on her face makes everything worth it. My first recipe from SK – and by god I’m happy to have stumbled upon you! Thanks a million – and good luck with the wee wrinkler you just made!
Googled [dinner tonight bell peppers couscous], this came up, I’m glad it did. Yum-E!
Yum!!!
This looks amazing! Always great to find new vegetarian recipes… this one is so creative too. Love it! Thanks so much for sharing – I absolutely adore this blog. The photos, the stories, the recipes…. everything! :)
I wonder if these would work with quinoa? I’ve got a bag of quinoa, no couscous. Haven’t cooked with quinoa so not sure how the flavor would meld. Any idea? Thanks!
Aha! I just saw Jonno’s comment…
I love the idea of stuffed peppers with couscous because so many recipes use rice. Anyway, I didn’t really have all the ingredients you have here so I improvised with pecorino instead of feta, minced peppers and smashed garlic cloves instead of zucchini/squash, I added slices of organic saucisson sec, and I topped them with a slice of yellow/orange tomato. I did use chickpeas (as a chickpea fanatic) and I cooked the couscous with stock and saffron. Super delicious. Thank you for the inspiration.
I tried this recipe tonight and it was delicious! My husband and I are trying to incorporate more vegetarian meals into our diet, and this one got two thumbs up. Thanks for sharing.
I found this on We Are Not Martha, and I can’t wait to try it. I also found your blog in the process and I’m excited to see what else you have.
i made this recipe last night — but added ground chicken to the mix. needless to say, it was amaaazing. ill never use rice again in stuffed peppers. we had a lot of left over stuffing which my husband took to the fire station to feed his boys. the fetaand chickpeas MAKE this recipe.
I made these last night and they were delicious! I usually do not like bell peppers but the couscous and feta made them irresistible! I will definitely be making these again :)
I was excited to make these, but then a little disappointed. I followed the recipe almost exactly (used wheat couscous instead of plain) and had hoped for softer peppers, but they had too much crunch. The filling was good but not great….a bit dry. Was it because the couscous was whole wheat? I didn’t want to make the traditional tomato sauce-drenched type of stuffed pepper, but am wondering what else could be done to make these more moist?
Hoping I can prep these beforehand and then pop them in the oven in a few hours for a small dinner with friends. Should be fine, right?
[Will report back]
hi, I was just rummaging around the internet in the hopes of finding a nice stuffed pepper recipe; well here we are! You said that this reheats very well, but I was just wondering if you reheat them in the microwave or the oven?
I don’t have a microwave so I reheat things in the oven. No reason the microwave wouldn’t work, though, I just haven’t tested it.
I made these the other night, but I had to use brown rice, as I was somehow out of cous-cous! It was seriously DELICIOUS. I added some Italian sausage as well. My fiance didn’t care for the actual peppers, but loved the filling. Next time maybe I’ll chop up the peppers and mix them in, and we’ll just make ourselves a big bowl full. I reheated leftover peppers in the microwave for lunch, and they were great!
I tried this recipe tonight, and just as I was pre-roasting the capsicums, I realised I didn’t have any squash, and the one zucchini left was partially decomposed…solution? Bacon bits, chopping up one of the capsicum lids, and then forgetting to measure the chickpeas. ..
It was awesome anyway, and I would definitely make it again, it was really quick!
This was the first time I’ve ever cooked cous cous, so was a little bit worried about it. Do you have any tips on how to make the cous cous less…lumpy? Did I not do something I should have? The texture seemed ok, it just stuck to itself a lot…
Thanks!
Oh man, these are magical and they have almost all of my favorite ingredients. I used quinoa (one of my all time favorites) instead of couscous and it was amazing. Perfect way to start the week so thank you!
This will be the second time that I make these. Great, healthy Sunday night meal. I’m making extras to freeze and use during the week or for lunch. Love this recipe! Whenever I have something that I need to use up in my fridge (feta today) I just type in the word in the search of the blog and voila- some delicious recipe appears! Can’t wait for your cookbook!
This filling is SO incredible and rich with flavors! We eat it as is, without the peppers. It’s one of my favorite things ever.
I just made this tonight and they were really good. I actually found the peppers a bit undercooked (though they were really thick yellow peppers), so I would even cook them a bit longer. I also chopped up the “lid” of the pepper that was cut off and added it to the mix of vegetables. I decided to skip the chickpeas (I love them but have ate WAY too many recently) and I added chorizo, which was awesome (I actually wished I added a bit more). As I was eating it, I thought walnuts would be a good addition (or substitution for the chickpease) and think I’ll try that next time. Thanks for the recipe (and helping me use up too many peppers in the fridge!).
Well, let me preface this by saying that I’m no newbie in the ktichen… believe it or not, a few minutes in the microwave will get those peppers ready just as well as boiling, steaming or baking. Simple, time saving, effective. I hope to cook this recipe soon, it looks great.
Oh my these look divine. Going to take them to a friend’s house tomorrow night. I have no idea what to serve WITH them though! Thanks for your blog!!!
I just made these last night, but used Israeli couscous instead, it’s much larger and I think made for a better match with the chickpeas! Also added mushrooms, yumm.
Brilliant recipe!
This dish is absolutely delicious! I love the fennel. Turned out great and I will make it again for sure!
WOW, these exceeded my expectations, they are truly delicious, I had to stop myself from eating the filling before I’d even filled the peppers – the filling is almost a stand-alone dish. I’m a vegetarian, but I added sausage for the meat-eaters, and they were in awe – THANKS for making me look good!
This was delicious! And much more filling than I thought it would be, which is great.
Yum! Definitely trying this tonight. Looks like an excellent worknight meal as well!
Mm, yours looks delish. I made a version of this that’s kinda different, more Italian flavors than Greek. You can see mine at http://www.gardenkitchenhome.com/2011/11/cooking-around-world-new-cookbook-new.html
I’m gonna have to try yours!
Can I make the filling the day before and store it in the fridge?
We made a version of these last night and they turned out great- delicious and healthy. We skipped the prebaking of the peppers and just stuffed and baked them, I like the peppers with a firmer texture with the “mushy” textured stuffing.
I’ve made these a few times now over the years. Just wanted to say they are awesome. Thanks for the yummy (and quick) recipe!!
Made this with quinoa instead of cous cous and added mushrooms, so delicious!
Another winner! I made mine with quinoa and rosemary, parsley and thyme, since that’s what I had fresh. I also stuffed them the night before and reheated for a dinner party.
I made this Sunday and it was AWESOME!!! There was enough filling left for stuffed portabello mushrooms on Monday (which were also awesome!) The only change I made was to add ground lamb instead of chickpeas and added some sliced kalamata olives. This is the third recipe I have tried here and I thank you because each has beed wonderful. Pre-ordered the cookbook on Amazon.
yumm
These were so wonderful they totally turned me around on my stuffed pepper position! My farmers’ market peppers wouldn’t stand up straight so I cut them in half and laid them down in the baking dish. The filling tumbled out of them, but they were just as delicious.
So looking forward to seeing you in DC when you come!
Made this tonight, but did it with quinoa (both red and regular, for a little color). Might try it with a little garlic next time, or is that a bad idea? Also, thinking of swapping one of the tablespoons of tomato paste with harissa. What do you think? Either way, was delicious!
These look delicious! I make a version with couscous, garbanzo beans, feta, fresh spinach, pine nuts, and dried cherries. I’m wondering if it would work to freeze these and bake later? And would you bake them first and freeze them or just stuff them and then freeze them to bake later? Thoughts? Thanks!
Made these last night with the last of the peppers from my garden, and they were delicious. The peppers were kind of small, so the recipe as written with regular couscous worked well, although I cut the tomatoes smaller. Next time I’ll try some variations. To soften the peppers easily, add some water to the pan and cover with tinfoil for baking. Remove at the end if you like the top crusty. They reheated well and I’m eating one now for breakfast. I’m going to feel healthy all day!
I made these a few days ago, minus the cheese considering I’m vegan and never liked feta anyways.
I think that they tasted great. Normally, when something calls for couscous I replace it with Quinoa, but I decided not to this time. It came out really well, but I think it would’ve been a bit better with Quinoa.
My omnivore parents and sister liked it a lot as well which says something because they are piiiiicky!
Thank you for the great recipe.
What kind of side dish would you serve with this? I’m doing a dinner party and need something else. I’ve got bread, but I feel like I’m missing something
Grilled sausages? Maybe a green vegetable? Or even a big salad. Hope that helps.
just cooked this, it was Delicious! I used it as a side for some grilled chicken wraps and it was perfect!
Delicious! Like many others, I swapped out the couscous in favor of some quinoa, for the whole grain. I used mushroom stock to cook the quinoa, and it was perfect.
P.S. Mushroom bouillon cubes are hard to find but great to have on hand in a pinch when you don’t have time/energy/ingredients to make fresh mushroom broth!
Hi! These look gorgeous and am hoping to try them out for a middle eastern dinner party soon. In looking at other stuffed pepper recipes (like your smoke roasted peppers), I was wondering whether it mattered if the peppers were cored and stuffed from above vs halved and stuffed sideways? The latter option would give folks a bit less per serving and allow them to enjoy a few other choices in the meal. Thanks.
Kris — I don’t think it matters which way you stuff them. I just find that it holds better when the peppers are upright. But, it will taste the same either way.
Thanks. If anyone else wants to try it, I followed the same recipe but did cut the peppers lengthwise. Broiled them briefly at the end to color the exposed stuffing. They look great and held up just fine.
could these be cooked on a BBQ
This is my favorite way to preserve my garden crop. I chop the peppers and toss them in rather than stuff them, then freeze in 2-cup containers, so easier to stir up in work microwave. Great way to have the taste of summer on a dreary day in November.
Yum. I crossed this recipe with the other stuffed pepper recipe I found on your site (replacing the chickpeas and feta by mixing in a little corn and part of a pepper, and sprinkling parmesan on top) and it turned out great. I looked this up because a neighbor left some peppers on my doorstep, and then I was glad to find a use for some of the couscous I had bought on impulse last week :)
My regular grocery store stopped carrying couscous (what year is it again???) and the quinoa was pricey so I used a wild rice blend (Lundberg) and it worked really well! I was afraid the flavor profile would be dragged too far toward bitter, but since I cooked it in the chicken broth (used pkg directions) it came out nicely. Served with a spring mix/baby spinach salad with chopped avocado. It’s a great change-up from our usual ground beef-white rice-tomato sauce stuffed green peppers. Husband said it’s a “definite keeper for vegetarian meal” options.
Melissa — I actually love that Lundberg wild rice blend; great idea.
Yum! This has been my favorite way to prepare stuffed peppers, very similar to your recipe, with lots of couscous, feta, zucchini, and mushrooms!
This sounds really good! Do you think they would keep in the fridge for a week?
These look tasty. Question though… How strong is the fennel taste? I’m not a huge fennel fan. Thanks!
This sounds delicious – and I have couscous, zucchini and bell peppers that need to be used! Ate the last of my feta yesterday though, and would like to avoid a trip to the store… do you think it would work if I replaced the feta with parmesan, cheddar or mozzarella?
Hmm… I’m not impressed. I find them quite bland, and the peppers hardly roasted at all. Good enough to eat what I made, but I won’t be making them again.
Thank you for this delicious recipe. My (vegetarian) friend and I loved the super simple preparation and the great taste. We’ll make them again 😊
I made these a few weeks ago and they were awesome! Next time I will skip or at least reduce the fennel as it was overpowering for me. I skipped chickpeas just because I didn’t have any, and there was still plenty of extra filling – which is a good thing. It’s delicious on it’s own. I’m actually making them again this week but not in stuffed-pepper form. I’m going to add some ground turkey to the mix, probably chop up a bell pepper or two and add it to the other veggies, and just serve the filling as a meal. Thanks for the great recipe!
I have made stuffed peppers like these in the past, but never though of adding chickpeas and/or feta! that is such a brilliant idea, so many great flavors that where added to this recipe, trying out this version
Yummy! I skipped the fennel because I didn’t have it, but it came out perfect. Very easy to make! The filling is substantial and delicious on its own, and I had plenty leftover after filling 4 XL peppers. Made one breakast meal out of the leftovers by combining with scrambled eggs, and I added cooked spinach to make a lunch dish. I will definitely make this again, but probably without the peppers.
What a wonderful recipe for August, using everything ripe and beautiful in my garden right now! Very easy to make, satisfying and delicious. I had already filled two of my four jumbo red peppers when I realized, I had forgotten to add the cheese! (I know, how stupid can one be….) So we had two peppers with cheese and two without. Although both kinds were excellent, I almost preferred the ones without the cheese, and am now thinking of making them next time without cheese, but perhaps with a small handful of raisins added, hmmm. Actually I think one could “play” with this recipe with several variations. In any case the fennel seeds are an inspired idea, I loved that extra flavor! Thank you for a recipe I will make often!
I just made these with farro instead of couscous since that’s what I had on hand- they are delicious! I’m taking them to a friend’s house and I think they will travel well. I prebaked and stuffed them, and I’ll just finish them off at her house and serve there.
Since Deb encouraged sharing our variations, I thought I would post mine. This recipe is tied (with the farro and tomatoes) for my favorite savory Smitten Kitchen recipe. I usually have an abundance of peppers, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini from my garden. My variation is to chop up the peppers and cook them with the other vegetables. This makes it more convenient to freeze (and thaw) in lunch-sized portions so I can get some summertime flavors in the middle of winter.
What other cheeses could I use here? My partner is staunchly opposed to feta but the rest looks delicious! Any suggestions?
I made this using regular tomatoes that I chopped, left out the fennel and cut the peppers in half and stuffed them that way instead. I really liked the slightly crunchy tops so I am glad I stuffed them this way. Next time I think I would add more feta for the taste contrast, or maybe my problem is that the feta I had left was more crumbles than bigger pieces. I will make these again for sure.
I’m going to be honest: I was skeptical about these. I’m not even sure why. But they were DELICIOUS and have made it quickly on my partner and my “Cook A Lot” list. I browned just a bit of italian sausage to add to the mix, and substituted feta cheese for parmesan (I live with a staunchly anti-feta man). They were great!
Came across this post as the “one year ago” link on the best challah bread page! I made this tonight for some friends coming over for dinner, along with some roast chicken. It was a hit! I omitted the fennel seeds and only used zucchinis as yellow squash weren’t in at my local grocer. I also subbed Israeli couscous – it was delicious and easy. Will definitely make again!
I love to make just the filling as a healthy side or a main. It makes a surprisingly large amount!! Usually can get 3-4 main dish portions or twice as many sides out of it. This time, I replaced half the tomato paste with harissa and added feta brine to my couscous cooking liquid. It was delicious! Thanks, Deb, for a weeknight staple!
This! I loved the harissa in here. Lots of flavor. I added my tomato paste/harissa to the onions and zucchini and sauteed for a few minutes to caramelize the paste as I’ve seen in many recipes.
I made a modified version of this last night and it was AMAZING! Instead of fresh tomatoes and tomato paste, I used some jarred chunky pasta sauce I had in the pantry. I also added some minced garlic. This is definitely going in the weeknight meal rotation. Thank you!