Palestinian Stuffed Peppers with Lemon Rice
Bell peppers stuffed with a flavorful mixture of seitan, vegetables, and spices, served alongside fragrant basmati rice infused with lemon.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 medium Red bell peppers(halved vertically and deseeded)
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1 cup Water
- 1 tsp Salt(divided)
- 1 tsp Vegetable oil(for peppers)
- 1 package Seitan(diced)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil(for sautéing)
- 1 medium Yellow onion(diced)
- 1 thinly sliced Celery stalk
- 2 minced Garlic cloves
- 1 tsp Ras el hanout
- 1/4 cup Golden raisins
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- 2 tsp Lemon juice(divided)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to broil on high. Rub the pepper halves with 1 tsp vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut-side down on a baking sheet and broil until blackened in spots, about 5-7 minutes.
- 2
While peppers broil, cook the basmati rice: Combine rice, 1 cup water, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15-18 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
- 3
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced seitan and cook until crispy in places, about 5-6 minutes.
- 4
Add diced yellow onion and sliced celery to the skillet. Cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and golden raisins, and cook for another 2 minutes until garlic is fragrant.
- 5
Stir in the ras el hanout and a pinch of salt. Add the cooked rice to the skillet with the seitan and vegetables. Stir in lemon zest and 1 tsp lemon juice. Mix well.
- 6
Carefully remove the broiled pepper halves from the oven. Fill each pepper half generously with the stuffing mixture.
- 7
Serve the stuffed pepper halves over a bed of the lemon rice. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tsp lemon juice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Broiling the peppers first adds a smoky flavor and softens them.
- ✓Ras el hanout is a complex spice blend; adjust to your preference.
- ✓Seitan can be substituted with firm tofu or crumbled tempeh for a vegan option.
🔄 Variations
- Add chopped nuts like almonds or walnuts to the stuffing.
- Incorporate other vegetables such as zucchini or bell peppers into the stuffing.