Healthy Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
Orange, yellow, or red bell peppers filled with lean turkey, black beans, brown rice, and spinach. A festive gluten-free Halloween dinner with no tomato sauce.If you like this recipe, please leave a star rating in the comments section of this post to help other followers in our EYN community!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 large bell pepper, orange (choose sturdy ones with broad bases) You can use a mixture of orange, yellow, and red bell peppers.
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, yellow (finely diced)
- 2 cloves garlic, fresh (minced)
- 1 teaspoon cumin, ground
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1 pound turkey, ground (93% lean)
- 1 cup black beans (no-salt, drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup brown rice (cooked, not dry rice)
- 2 cups spinach (chopped)
- ⅓ cup broth, chicken
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt, fine (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lime, juice
- ¼ cup water (for the baking dish)
Optional Ingredients:
- ¼ cup cheese of choice (cheddar or suitable dairy-free cheese, shredded)
- lime, wedge (for serving)
- cilantro (chopped for garnish and extra flavor)
Instructions
- Prepare And Carve The PeppersHeat the oven to 400°F. Wash and dry the peppers. Cut off the tops, remove seeds and membranes, and save the tops. On a cutting board, use a small sharp knife to cut small triangle eyes and a simple mouth in the flattest side of each pepper. Keep openings small to help contain the filling. Adults should handle the carving.
- Soften The Pepper ShellsStand the peppers upright in a baking dish that holds them snugly. Add ¼ cup water to the bottom of the dish. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes while preparing the filling. Set the tops aside for later baking.
- Cook The Turkey FillingHeat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and black pepper; stir for 30 seconds. Add the ground turkey and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until fully cooked to 165°F.
- Add Beans, Rice, And Spinach Stir the black beans, cooked brown rice, spinach, broth, and salt into the turkey. Cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until the spinach wilts and the filling is hot. If using leftover rice, heat the mixture thoroughly to 165°F. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice. The filling should be moist but not soupy.
- Fill And BakeCarefully remove the hot dish from the oven. Spoon the hot filling into the peppers without pressing hard against the carved faces. Bake any filling that does not fit in a separate small oven-safe dish, covered. If using cheese, sprinkle over the filling. Arrange the pepper tops alongside the peppers. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake for 5–10 minutes more, until the peppers are tender and the center of the filling reaches 165°F.
- Finish And ServeLet stand for 5 minutes, then add cilantro if desired. Set the baked tops on the peppers for the jack-o'-lantern look. Serve with extra lime wedges and any additional filling. The peppers and baking dish will be hot.
Laura's Recipe Tips
🌿 The Harmony Method™ Pillars Supported 🌿
Rotation | Gut-Hormone-Mood | Flavor Infusion | Mindful Meal Mapping
Nutrition
Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 525kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 34gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 360mgPotassium: 780mgFiber: 10gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 6663IUVitamin C: 217mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 5mg
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Modify as needed and enjoy.
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