Now that our herbs and veggie garden is beginning to produce, we decided to prepare one of our favorite recipes with fresh green peppers. It is very simple, yet quite wholesome. We make it quite often, but using fresh peppers from the garden really gave a nice flavor.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1/2 dozen medium sized green bell peppers
• 1/2 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup basmati rice
• 1 medium sized onion, finely chopped or crushed in a food processor
• 1 tomato , sliced
• 1 tomato, crushed in a food processor
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt, pepper to taste

Method

Saute onion in olive oil. Add crushed tomato, salt an pepper and cook until onions are soft. Add ground beef and cook until beef turns light brown, stirring occasionally. Add rice and mix well. Cook for a little while more. Rice does not need to cook completely.

Wash green peppers. Slice off the cap but keep it aside for covering the peppers later. Remove seeds to create a cavity. Wash well.

Fill the pepper cavity with cooked beef and rice mixture. Don’t overpack but fill to the top. Cover with the cap and arrange in a deep pot. Arrange sliced tomatoes in a layer on top. Add warm water, tomato paste and remaining juice, if available, from the beef mixture around the peppers. Water level should be high enough to cover the peppers a little over half way.  Cook covered on low to medium heat until peppers and tomatoes are cooked to the desired softness.

Peppers are  a good source of fiber, vitamin C, iron, calcium and potassium.

Biber Dolma is the Turkish name for this recipe!

Enjoy!

©2011 Littlestomaks.com

Ingredients

1. 4-5 tomatoes, pureed in a food processor
2. 1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
3. 4-5 eggs, beaten
4. 1-2 sweet mini-peppers, chopped
5. 2 tbsp olive oil
6. Salt and pepper to taste
7. Chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)

Method

1. Saute the onions in olive oil over low to medium heat until softened
2. Add chopped peppers
3. Add tomato puree, mix well and cook for a few minutes
4. Add beaten eggs and mix. Stir occasionally to make a uniform mixture
5. Cook for 10-15 minutes until eggs are fully cooked

©2009 Littlestomaks.com