stuffed peppers with sauce

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground clove
• 1 bay leaf
• stuffed peppers:
• 4 large green bell peppers, tops removed, seeded
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1/3 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 1/2 cups cold, cooked white rice
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Recipe

Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 55 mins Ready Time: 1 hr 30 mins


• heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. stir in 1/2 cup onion and garlic, and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes. stir in the chopped bell pepper, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, then season with salt, chili powder, sugar, black pepper, glove, and a bay leaf. bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• while the sauce is simmering, microwave the peppers until tender, about 45 seconds. preheat a skillet over medium-high heat, and add ground beef. cook and stir until browned and crumbly, then stir in 1/4 cup onion, and celery. drain off grease. cook another 5 minutes, then fold in the rice and parmesan cheese. season to taste with salt and pepper.
• preheat oven to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c).
• to assemble, stir about 1/2 cup of the sauce into the beef mixture to moisten it. stuff the peppers with the beef mixture, and place a 9x9 inch baking pan. pour the remaining sauce over the peppers.
• bake peppers, uncovered, until hot and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.