Mexican Stuffed Peppers Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I boil peppers before stuffing them? ›

I definitely suggest par-cooking the bell peppers first, just a little bit before stuffing them. Not only does this help to soften the bell peppers, but it also cuts down on your cook time. As the bell peppers are cooking you can make the filling, shaving off about 20 minutes from your total cook time.

Bell pepper

Stuffed peppers / Main ingredient

In many Latin American dishes, you'll find bell peppers. However, unlike most other Latin American food, Mexican food also uses lots of chile peppers. Both bell peppers and chile peppers are good sources of vitamin C. They also both add lots of flavor to dishes but in different ways.

Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the baking dish and drizzle the peppers with a little olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the peppers are soft and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, another 15 to 20 minutes.

No Moisture In, No Moisture Out

Let's say your filling calls for tomato sauce. Rather than spooning it directly into your hollowed peppers, reduce it on the stove until it's thick. Likewise, brown your meat first to allow it to release some of its moisture and fat before going into the pepper.

The thing about most stuffed bell pepper recipes is 3that they call for salt in the filling, not for the peppers themselves. Without salt, the peppers are flabby and bland, merely a filling case. With a sprinkle of salt, they transform into a sweet and powerfully savory part of the dish.

Bell peppers are naturally sweet and but can easily have a lovely savory side to them with the right seasoning (I like to use salt and thyme). Sautéing them with a little olive oil enhances their natural flavors and creates a delicious and colorful addition to a meal that requires little work!

Here's what you'll need to make these easy stuffed peppers: Red bell peppers – Red bell peppers will always be my #1 pick. If you want to try a different color, use yellow or orange peppers, as they're sweeter than their green counterparts. Black beans – Use canned, or cook your own.

Jalapeño, Serrano, Poblano, Chipotle, Habanero, and a whole host more are popular in both their fresh and cooked forms in a large variety of Mexican dishes. Each chile serves its purpose and adds flavor and spice to the food providing different heat levels.

What is the trinity of Mexican peppers? ›

Pasilla pepper – 1,000-1,500 SHU – This is part of the “holy trinity” of Mexican chiles that make up a mole; the other two chiles are the Ancho and the Guajillo.

Jalapeños. Jalapeño is a pepper with Mexican origins, but nowadays it's grown throughout the world due to its unique flavor and a mild level of heat, from 2,500 to 8,000 Scovilles. The name is Spanish for Jalapa or Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, where these peppers were originally grown.

The chile relleno, literally "stuffed pepper", consists of a roasted and peeled/skinned green pasilla or poblano pepper stuffed with cheese (traditionally queso fresco) and, occasionally, minced meat, covered in an egg batter, and fried.

These delicious stuffed peppers are made with ground turkey and include spinach, low-fat feta cheese and brown rice for great flavor. Along with taste, the insoluble fiber found in peppers and spinach is beneficial for keeping your digestive tract healthy, while the brown rice can help control blood cholesterol levels.

TO STORE: Refrigerate stuffed peppers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F. TO FREEZE: Freeze peppers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

ANSWER: Some recipes call for blanching the peppers to soften them slightly; others do not. Green peppers at a local store were stuffed with a raw ground meat mixture and looked as though they were not boiled or blanched. If you bake peppers this way, they will take longer to cook and will hold their shape better.

To boil bell peppers: Cook peppers, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp-tender. To sauté bell peppers: Heat a skillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add bell peppers and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes.

In a large pot of boiling water, parboil the peppers until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and dry on paper towels.

Fill jars with peppers; add hot, well-mixed oil/pickling solution over peppers, leaving ½-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process half-pints and pints for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath at altitudes of less than 1000 feet. If at an altitude of 1001 to 3000 feet, process for 20 minutes.