Dolmeh-ye Felfel
Persian Stuffed Peppers
Tender bell peppers filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, and yellow split peas, simmered in a tangy sweet-sour sauce. A classic Persian comfort food.
🧂 Ingredients
- 6 Bell peppers(Medium-sized, any color (red, yellow, orange recommended for sweetness))
- 300 g Ground beef(80/20 lean to fat ratio is ideal for flavor and moisture)
- 150 g Short-grain rice(Such as Arborio or sushi rice, rinsed well)
- 50 g Yellow split peas(Soaked overnight or for at least 4 hours, then drained)
- 3 tbsp Tomato paste
- 3 tbsp Pomegranate molasses(Adjust to taste; can be very tart)
- 1 medium Onion(Finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(Minced)
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp Salt(Or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(Freshly ground, or to taste)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil(For sautéing)
- 2 cups Water or vegetable broth(For the sauce)
- 1 tbsp Sugar(Optional, to balance tartness)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the bell peppers: Slice off the tops of the peppers and reserve them. Carefully scoop out the seeds and membranes from the inside of each pepper, creating a hollow cavity. Rinse the peppers inside and out.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 2
Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, rinsed rice, drained yellow split peas, chopped onion, minced garlic, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 3
Stuff the peppers: Loosely fill each hollowed pepper with the meat and rice mixture. Do not pack too tightly, as the rice will expand during cooking. Place the reserved pepper tops back on to cover the filling.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Arrange and prepare the sauce: Stand the stuffed peppers upright in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. In a separate bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, water or broth, and optional sugar until smooth. Pour this sauce over and around the peppers in the pot.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Braise the dolmeh: Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and let the dolmeh braise for approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. The peppers should be tender, and the rice fully cooked. Check periodically to ensure the liquid hasn't evaporated too much; add a little more water or broth if needed.
⏱️ 1 hour 15 minutes - 6
Rest and serve: Once cooked, let the dolmeh rest in the pot for about 10 minutes before serving. Spoon the flavorful sauce from the pot over the peppers when serving.
⏱️ 10 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For easier stuffing, you can partially cook the rice and split peas before mixing with the meat.
- ✓Ensure the peppers are sturdy enough to stand upright. If not, you can trim a small sliver from the bottom to create a flat base.
- ✓The sweet-sour balance is key. Taste the sauce before pouring and adjust pomegranate molasses or sugar as needed.
- ✓Serve hot with the rich sauce spooned over.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, mint, or dill to the filling for extra freshness.
- Increase the heat by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a finely chopped chili to the filling.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the beef and increase the amount of rice and split peas, or add finely chopped mushrooms.