Stuffed Peppers in the Oven

To prepare a delicious stuffed pepper dish, we start by gathering all the necessary ingredients. We need onion, carrot, tomatoes or tomato juice, rice, minced meat (beef or pork, according to preference), salt, pepper, bell peppers, and potatoes. Make sure all ingredients are fresh, as their quality influences the final result.

The first step is to take care of the onion. We peel and finely chop it, then put it in a frying pan with a little heated oil. We let it sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it becomes translucent and starts to brown slightly. This process will add a delicious flavor to our dish. While the onion is sautéing, we prepare the carrot, which we grate. When the onion is ready, we add the grated carrot, mixing well to combine the flavors.

After a few minutes, we add the finely chopped tomatoes or, if you prefer, the tomato juice. We let everything simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to develop. When the mixture is well combined and all the ingredients are cooked, we add the rice and minced meat, continuing to stir. We season with salt and pepper to taste. The filling is now ready, and the aroma rising from the pan is truly inviting.

Next, we move on to the bell peppers, which we wash well and remove the stems. We fill each pepper with the meat and rice mixture, being careful not to overfill them, as the rice will expand during cooking. We arrange the stuffed peppers in a baking dish, side by side, creating a beautiful arrangement. In the remaining empty spaces between the peppers, we place the quartered potatoes, which will add a note of consistency and absorb some of the sauce's flavors.

For the sauce, we mix tomato juice with a little salt and oil, then pour this mixture evenly over the peppers and potatoes, making sure all ingredients are well covered. We cover the dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius. We let the dish bake for about 45 minutes. In the last few minutes, we remove the foil to allow the peppers to develop a slightly browned crust.

When the dish is ready, we take it out of the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. The stuffed peppers are delicious, and the combination of meat, rice, and vegetables, along with the tomato sauce, makes them a perfect dish for any occasion. Enjoy your meal!