Stuffed Banana Peppers

While I was shopping at the market over this past weekend, the banana peppers at Al Hamka Farms immediately caught my eye.

Banana peppers are a member of the chile family and have a mild, tangy taste. Their size is similar to a jalapeño which makes them perfect to stuff if you want an easy hand held pepper that is not too spicy. The stuffing in the peppers is made from rice, beans, cheese and various other ingredients; I served this as a side dish with the peppers because it was so good on its own. I also used this the following few days in other dishes like breakfast tacos and a black bean burrito because it stays very good in the fridge!

fresh ingredients from local farmers and vendors

Al Hamka Farms

• as I mentioned above, I got the banana peppers right from Al Hamka Farms!
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Crooked Sky Farms

• I used cilantro, black beans, onions, and garlic that I had purchased from Crooked Sky Farms

Ingredients

1 package banana peppers

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 chopped yellow onion

1 clove minced garlic

2 cups cooked rice

1 1/2 cups black beans, drained

• A Dry Beans How To

1 tsp cumin powder

2 tbsp tomato ketchup

2 tbsp chopped cilantro

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

salt to taste and add accordingly

The Process 

preparing the stuffing

1. begin by cooking 1/2 cup of dry white rice and let it cool (you can substitute other rices like basmati, quinoa, or brown as long as it produced two cups cooked)
2. heat up the olive oil in a wide sauce pan over medium heat
3. add the chopped onions and garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes
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4. next, add the drained beans to the pot and let it cook for a few minutes
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5. add the cooked rice and combine everything well
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6.  now, add the cumin, ketchup, cilantro, and salt; mix until combined (optional: you can add a tsp of cayenne and a bit of your favorite hot sauce if you want a spicier flavor)
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7. taste the mixture and add salt if needed
8. to complete the stuffing, spread the cheese over the top (skip this step to make it vegan)

preparing the peppers

1. the peppers will cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven, so the first step is the preheat your oven
2. start by removing the top parts of the banana peppers
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3. next, remove the seeds from the peppers
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4. now, fill the banana peppers with the stuffing mix and level the stuffing at the opening of the pepper
   1. I used a butter knife to get the stuffing deep into the peppers and level them
   2. note: try not to over stuff the peppers, some may come out during the cooking process
5. line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and nonstick spray and place the peppers onto it, leaving room in between each
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6. bake the peppers in the oven for 20 minutes or until the peppers have become charred

You can serve these delicious handheld stuffed peppers as an appetizer or add some more sides to make it a filling meal! I decided to serve them with the rest of the stuffing and they were wonderful. The stuffing on its own is a cheap and easy way to add some great flavor and nutrition to this recipe and many other dishes. Next time you are shopping at the farmer’s market, be sure to grab some of these delicious banana peppers!

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