Stuffed peppers baked in tomato and basil sauce

Stuffed peppers baked in tomato and basil sauce. Photograph: Harry weir Photography
Stuffed peppers baked in tomato and basil sauce. Photograph: Harry weir Photography
Serves: 4
Course: Dinner
Cooking Time: 30 mins
Prep Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

  • 150g long grain rice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 large shallots, diced
  • 50g butter
  • 100g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2tsp turmeric
  • 100ml vegetable stock
  • 4 bell peppers
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2tbs veg oil
  • 1tbs tomato paste
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes
  • 1tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 large bunch of basil
  • Salt and black pepper

1 Rinse the rice under cold water and cook in a pan of water for approximately 20-25 minutes (until the water has been absorbed and the rice is soft). Alternatively use a rice cooker. If you soak the rice in water beforehand, you will be able to reduce the cooking time.

2 In a pan, sauté the garlic and shallot in the butter for five minutes. Add the rice, sun-dried tomatoes, turmeric and vegetable stock and cook for a further five minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

3 Cut the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds inside. Fill the peppers with the rice mixture and place the tops back on the peppers. Set aside.

4 For the tomato sauce: in a pan, cook the onion and garlic in the oil for eight minutes on a medium heat. Add the tomato paste, tinned tomatoes, vinegar, half the basil (stem removed) and salt and pepper. Cook for 30 minutes, adding a little water to loosen up if necessary.

5 Place the stuffed peppers in an ovenproof dish and add the tomato sauce. Bake at 190 degrees for 30 minutes. Garnish with the remaining basil.