
Bolognese Stuffed Peppers
Dive into these incredibly juicy and flavourful stuffed peppers, baked to perfection! Packed with a savoury meat mixture and rich tomato sauce, they're the ultimate comfort food for any weeknight. Plus, bell peppers are bursting with vitamin C, making this dish a healthy and irresistible treat!
Ingredients
fresh parsley30 g
peppers6 wholered, yellow, or green
beef600 gor half beef/half pork
carrots2 wholediced
salt1 pinch
black pepper1 pinch
paprika2 tsp
parmesan cheese50 ggrated, optional
extra virgin olive oil2 tbsp
plain flour8 g
water180 mlor broth
passata500 g
garlic cloves4 clove
sugar0.5 tspoptional
oregano1 tsp
white onion1 wholefinely diced
Instructions
Chef's Tips
Don't overfill the peppers; leave a little space at the top for the sauce to circulate, which helps them cook evenly and prevents spillage.
For an extra layer of flavour, sauté the onions and carrots until they are deeply caramelised before adding the meat.
If you want to prepare this dish ahead of time, you can stuff the peppers and prepare the sauce, then store them separately in the fridge. Assemble and bake when ready to serve.
Prepare the Oven and Peppers
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/Gas Mark 4). Carefully cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Set the pepper tops aside to use as lids.
Prepare the Vegetables
Finely chop the onion, carrot, and mince the garlic clove.
Cook the Vegetables and Beef
In a large skillet over medium heat, add a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Sauté the chopped onion, garlic and carrot until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
Season the Meat Mixture
Stir in the parsley, oregano, salt, black pepper, and paprika. If using, add the parmesan cheese and mix well.
Make the Sauce
In a small saucepan, heat a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Whisk in the plain flour to form a roux. Gradually whisk in the passata and water. Add a pinch of sugar, salt, and black pepper to taste. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Stuff the Peppers
Evenly fill each pepper with the meat mixture, pressing gently. Place the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish and put the pepper tops back on.
Bake the Peppers
Pour the prepared sauce over and around the stuffed peppers. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through.
Final Touches and Serving
Remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking to allow the peppers to brown slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.