Easy Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 4 large orange bell peppers
• Olive oil
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced carrot
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 ounce) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup grated vegan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375°F.
• Using a sharp knife, slice off the tops of each bell pepper. Reserve the tops.
• Carefully remove all the seeds and veins from inside each pepper. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel. Use a small paring knife to cut out the holes on the exterior of the peppers to make the jack-o-lantern faces.
• In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and carrot. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until they start to soften.
• Add the diced zucchini and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in the ground cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant.
• Add the diced tomatoes and chickpeas to the skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cooked quinoa. Add ½ cup of cheese with the quinoa and mix well. Adjust seasoning if needed.
• Carefully stuff each bell pepper with the vegetable and chickpea mixture, pressing it down gently as you fill them.
• Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top of the peppers.
• Place the stuffed peppers in a baking dish. If the peppers don't stand upright, you can slice a small portion off the bottom to create a flat surface.
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
• Once the peppers are done, carefully remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
• Serve the stuffed peppers as a main dish, garnished with fresh herbs like chopped parsley or cilantro if desired.