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.