Jordanian Stuffed Peppers (Filfil Mahshi)
Bell peppers stuffed with a flavorful mixture of rice, ground meat (lamb or beef), onions, and aromatic spices, then simmered in a light tomato broth. This dish is a comforting and classic part of Jordanian cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 6 medium Bell peppers(any color, tops cut off, seeds removed)
- 300 g Ground lamb or beef
- 1 cup Long-grain rice(rinsed)
- 1 large Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 3 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Seven spice blend
- 0.5 teaspoon Allspice
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 4 cups Water or vegetable broth
- 0.5 cup Tomato sauce
- for garnish chopped Fresh parsley
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Peppers: Wash the bell peppers, cut off the tops, and carefully remove the seeds and membranes. Set aside.
- 2
Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, rinsed rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, olive oil, seven spice blend, allspice, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- 3
Stuff the Peppers: Loosely stuff each pepper with the meat and rice mixture, leaving some space for the rice to expand during cooking. You can place a slice of tomato on top of each stuffed pepper if desired.
- 4
Prepare the Cooking Liquid: In a large pot or Dutch oven, whisk together the tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water or broth. Bring the liquid to a simmer.
- 5
Cook the Peppers: Carefully arrange the stuffed peppers in the pot, standing upright. Ensure they are packed snugly to prevent them from falling over. If needed, place a heat-proof plate on top to keep them submerged. Cover the pot and simmer on low heat for 45-60 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the rice and meat are fully cooked.
- 6
Serve: Garnish the stuffed peppers with fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot, with a side of plain yogurt or a fresh salad.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Do not pack the stuffing too tightly, as the rice will expand.
- ✓If you don't have seven spice, a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, cumin, and black pepper can be used.
- ✓Leftover stuffing can be cooked separately as a rice and meat dish.
🔄 Variations
- Vegetarian version: Omit the meat and increase the amount of rice and vegetables in the filling.
- Other vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes, or eggplant can also be stuffed using the same filling.