Stuffed Seasonal Vegetables
Sweet peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash, stuffed with tasty tomato rice, and flavored with Pecorino-Romano cheese, pine nuts, and fresh basil. Served warm or room temperature, these beauties are the perfect way to start your meal or provide a perfect accompaniment that is both colorful and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 3 T Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic crushed
- 1 cup White Rice
- 1 cup Diced Tomatoes and Juice
- 1 cup Water
- 1 T Double Concentrated Tomato Paste
- ½ cup Grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- ¼ cup Toasted Pine Nuts*
- 3 T Fresh Basil chiffonade
- 2 T Chopped Flat Parsley
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 4 Peppers
- 4 Medium Zucchinis or Yellow Squash
Instructions
- In a sauté pan, with a lid over medium heat, add the olive oil; when warm, add the onion and sauté 4 minutes, until they start to soften. Add the garlic and sauté gently for 1 minute more.
- Add the rice and cook stirring until opaque; about 2 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and the water cover; with the lid, lower the heat to “low” and simmer, stirring occasionally until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add the cheese, basil, pine nuts and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pre heat the oven to 350º F.
- Cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds.
- Cut the zucchinis in half. Using a melon baller or small knife, scoop out the interior flesh creating a little boat.
- Fill the peppers and zucchini with the rice mixture (you may have extra rice filling).
- Place the stuffed vegetables on a rimed baking sheet. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the 350º F oven. Bake until the vegetables are slightly soft; about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven. Remove the foil and let cool. Serve warm or room temperature.
Notes
Tips & Tricks
-To toast pine nuts: place on a rimmed baking sheet in a 350º F oven for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully: they burn quickly!
-Rice is delicious as a simple side dish. You can also stuff eggplant or tomatoes.