While the apple trees are still red in the gardens, another red vegetable is making its way into the kitchen – red peppers. Once exotic, this vegetable is increasingly found not only in stores, but also in greenhouses. Due to its bright red color and low price, sweet red peppers are perfect for both professional kitchens and everyday dishes. The Lidl retail chain is sharing three simple, yet flavorful recipes, the main star of which is sweet red peppers.
Red peppers are rich in vitamin C, with more than oranges. They are also rich in vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin B6, folate, and antioxidants, especially lycopene. Lycopene and other antioxidants help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby protecting the heart and blood vessels.
"Red peppers often end up in customers' shopping carts due to their taste and versatility in the kitchen. This vegetable is perfect for green salads or snacks, as well as fried, stewed or grilled dishes. Peppers give them a bright color, a mild sweet taste and crunch. Since these vegetables have a rich taste, it allows you to create delicious, yet inexpensive dishes from just a few ingredients," says Lina Skersytė, Public Relations Manager at Lidl Lietuva.
Lidl invites you to rediscover this vegetable in the kitchen and try several simple recipes.
When you want more filling: peppers stuffed with minced meat
One of the classic dishes that best showcases the flavor of red peppers is stuffed peppers. They can be stuffed with almost anything, and can be prepared in the oven or on the grill.
The dish will require:
4 red sweet peppers
600 g minced meat
100 g grated fermented cheese or other favorite cheese
2 cups rice
3 onions
2 cloves of garlic
A splash of olive oil
Salt, pepper to taste
Preparation:
Cut off the tops and stems of the peppers – you won’t need them later. Scoop out the insides of the peppers and remove the seeds.
Boil water in a pot and cook the rice. While it is boiling, chop the onion and garlic, then add them to a heated pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Fry them for a few minutes until they soften and turn golden.
In the same pan, add the minced meat, salt and pepper, and stir. Fry the meat until it turns light brown, but do not overcook.
Drain the cooked rice and put it in a bowl. Add the browned meat to the same bowl. Mix everything together.
Add the resulting mixture to the prepared peppers. Add enough of the mixture to completely fill the peppers.
Place the peppers in a baking dish and bake in an oven preheated to 180°C for about 25–30 minutes.
Before the end of cooking, take out the peppers and sprinkle them with grated cheese. Fry the peppers for a couple more minutes until the cheese melts.
Serve the baked peppers alone or with your favorite vegetables.
Not only vegetarians will like it: peppers stuffed with autumn vegetables
If you love stuffed peppers but aren't a big fan of meat, Lidl is offering peppers stuffed with autumn vegetables. We can assure you that even die-hard meat lovers will love them.
You will need:
4 red sweet peppers
400 g of mushrooms
500 g boiled beetroot
2 onions
2 cloves of garlic
1 green zucchini
1 tsp chili powder
A splash of olive oil
Salt, pepper to taste
Preparation:
Cut off the tops and stems of the peppers – you won’t need them later. Scoop out the insides of the peppers and remove the seeds.
Chop the onion and garlic, then add them to a heated pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Fry them for a few minutes until they soften and turn golden.
Slice the mushrooms and dice the beets and zucchini. Add everything to the pan with the onions and garlic, season with salt, pepper, and chili powder, and stir. Sauté until the vegetables and mushrooms are tender.
Fill the prepared peppers with the fried vegetables. Place everything in a baking dish and bake in an oven preheated to 180 °C for about 20 minutes.
Drizzle the roasted peppers with olive oil and serve.
A real party hit: spicy pepper spread
You can surprise unexpected guests with a savory sweet red pepper spread. It's quick and easy to prepare, yet packed with a wealth of flavors that will delight everyone.
For the spread you will need:
2 sweet red peppers
1 pomegranate fruit
2 onions
2 cloves of garlic
1 can of cooked chickpeas
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt, pepper to taste
Bread, vegetable sticks, other favorite snacks
Cut the sweet red peppers and onions into cubes, and the garlic into very small pieces.
Add a drizzle of oil to a heated pan and fry the onions and garlic. When they are golden, add the chopped peppers. Fry until they are soft.
Place the fried vegetables in a food processor and add the drained chickpeas.
Peel the pomegranate and squeeze out the juice. Pour it and a drizzle of olive oil into a food processor. Blend until smooth.
Add salt, pepper, and chili powder and blend everything again.
Pour the sweet red pepper spread into a large bowl or several smaller bowls. Serve the spread with bread, vegetable sticks, or other favorite snacks.
Delicious!
