Roasted Red Peppers Stuffed with Kale & Rice

Ingredients
  

Filling

  • 8 ounces of kale 6 cups lightly packed, trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil Marketplace Koroneki EVOO
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup of chopped red bell pepper
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup of cooked short-grain brown rice see Tip
  • 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup of toasted pine nuts divided (see Tip)
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions
 

To prepare peppers:

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Halve peppers lengthwise through the stems, leaving them attached. Remove the seeds. Lightly brush the peppers outside and inside with oil; sprinkle the insides with salt and pepper.
  • Place, cut-side down, in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake until peppers are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Turn cut-side up.

To prepare filling:

  • Bring 2 cups salted water to a boil in a large wide pan.
  • Stir in kale, cover and cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water; squeeze dry. Finely chop.
  • Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  • Add onion and chopped bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until onion is golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the kale. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
  • Stir in rice, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons pine nuts and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the filling among the pepper halves. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons pine nuts.
  • Add 2 tablespoons water to the baking dish.
  • Cover the peppers with foil and bake until heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes more. Serve hot.

Tip

  • To cook brown rice: Place 1 cup brown rice, 2 1/2 cups water and a pinch of salt, if desired, in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cover; cook over low heat until rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes. Makes 3 cups.
  • To toast pine nuts: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. (Or spread in a small baking pan and bake at 400°F for about 5 minutes.)

Make Ahead Tip:

  • Prepare through step 3, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
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