Vegetables don't have to be just sitting on the side of the dish, why not turn the vegetabled into a bowl! Soft baked red peppers are the perfect container to fill with a nutty couscous filling for a great combination of textures. It's quick and easy to make for a simple lunch that will please vegetarians and meat-eaters too.
Ingredients
- 4 red Romano peppers
- 2tbsp olive oil
- 45g blanched hazelnuts, chopped
- 30g pine nuts
- 90g couscous
- 60g raisins
- 3tbsp small capers, rinsed and drained, optional
- About 10 mint leaves
- Salt and ground black pepper
WEIGHT CONVERTER
Method
- Set the oven to gas mark 6 or 200°C. Halve the peppers lengthways. Lay them on a baking sheet, skin-side up, and sprinkle with oil. Put them in the oven to bake for 15 mins.
- Line another baking sheet with foil and put the hazelnuts on one side and the pine nuts on the other. Roast in the oven. The pine nuts will take 6-8 mins and the hazelnuts 10 mins. But keep an eye on them.
- Meanwhile, put the couscous in a large bowl and pour over about 200ml boiling water. Stir in the raisins and leave for 10 mins.
- Scrape juices from the pepper tray into the couscous. Add the nuts, capers, if using, and torn mint leaves. Season well. Fill the peppers with the couscous mixture.
- Cover the tray loosely with foil. Bake for 10 mins, take the foil off and bake for another 10 mins. Serve peppers hot, drizzled with more olive oil, and with rocket leaves, if you like.
Top Tip for making Crunchy nut Romano peppers
If not cooking for a vegetarian, you can add a few chopped anchovies for extra flavour.
-
Baked stuffed peppersThis recipe for roasted bacon and egg stuffed peppers is a classic woman's weekly recipe taken from 1958. Stuff the peppers with bacon, egg and breadrumbs and spinkle with plenty of cheese. Bake for 50 mins and serve hot with peas or salad.
-
Easy Mediterranean stuffed peppersThese delicious stuffed peppers are filled with melted Edam and make a great midweek meal. They're easy to make but look very impressive and will brighten up dinner time with the colourful peppers!
-
Roasted peppers with spiced beans and goat's cheeseThis is a great twist on the usual stuffed peppers recipe with spicy beans and tangy goat's cheese in this hearty vegetarian dish.
-
Sweet potato and courgette fish cakesThese sweet potato and courgette fish cakes take 30 minutes to make and can be served with chips, salad, or steamed veg on the side...
-
Chicken and spinach lasagneThis chicken and spinach lasagne is a great new take on the family favourite and it’s easy to prepare during the day to cook come dinner time...
-
Broccoli pasta with pancettaThis broccoli pasta with pancetta takes 30 minutes to cook making it a great speedy family dinner...
-
Prince William and Prince Harry’s ‘favourite’ childhood meals are surprisingly ‘normal’ and easy to recreate for family dinnersThe brother's enjoyed "traditional, English food"
-
Kate Middleton has reportedly ‘FaceTimed’ her kids everyday while in hospital as Prince William holds down the fort at homeThe Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery in The London Clinic
-
Why George, Charlotte and Louis won’t be joining the rest of the family for Christmas dinnerHe'll be sat at a different table from King Charles and senior Royals...
