Peppers Stuffed with Quinoa and Spinach

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Packed with whole grains and flavorful vegetables, these cheesy stuffed peppers make for a satisfying and simple vegetarian dinner.

Peppers Stuffed with Quinoa and Spinach
Photo: Karla Conrad
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
12 mins
Bake Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 17 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 pepper halves

Ingredients

  • 1 14.5 ounce can vegetable broth

  • cup quick-cooking barley

  • cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

  • 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained

  • ½ of a 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained, or 3 cups fresh spinach

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers or Monterey Jack cheese (5 ounces)

  • 3 large red sweet peppers

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a medium saucepan bring broth to boiling. Add barley and quinoa. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, covered, about 12 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup cooking liquid; set aside.

  2. In a large skillet cook onion and garlic in hot oil over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook and stir for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomatoes, spinach, the salt, and the black pepper. Add quinoa mixture and 1/2 cup of the cheese; stir to combine. Remove from heat.

  3. Cut peppers in half lengthwise. Remove and discard seeds and membranes from the peppers. Sprinkle insides of peppers lightly with additional salt and black pepper. Fill pepper halves with quinoa mixture. Place peppers, filled sides up, in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Pour the reserved cooking liquid into dish around peppers.

  4. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover; top stuffed peppers with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 10 more minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender and cheese is browned.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

253 Calories
13g Fat
24g Carbs
11g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 253
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 641mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 109.7mg 549%
Calcium 246mg 19%
Iron 2.2mg 12%
Potassium 475mg 10%
Folate, total 102.3mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.2mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.4mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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