Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup

John has asked me for decades to eat stuffed peppers. I tried some frozen meal ones once, but only ate the insides, which l liked. Otherwise, I’ve avoided them as I wasn’t the biggest fan of bell peppers in years past unless they were diced really tiny and cooked a long time.

I’m expanding my palate these days… And this Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup is bomb! Perfect for this rainy evening in.

All the flavors of a stuffed pepper in an easy, one-pot dish! Paired with a crisp green salad, it was so satisfying.

Luckily, the recipe I crafted for tonite makes a big batch so I’ll have plenty to freeze for lunches and such.

TIP: We don’t add much salt to anything these days, but if you’re a salt lover, feel free to add up to 1 more addt’l tsp of kosher salt to this.

STORE:

Cool until no longer steaming (definitely less than 2 hrs for food safety!), then:

• FRIDGE: Transfer to airtight container(s). Keep in fridge for up to 3 days.
• FREEZER: Transfer to freezer-safe airtight container(s) [leave room for expansion]. Keep in freezer for up to 3 mos. For best texture, allow to thaw in fridge overnight before reheating.
• REHEATING: Rice will absorb liquid while it refrigerates so you’ll want to stir (and maybe add some broth before reheating). Reheat just portion you’ll eat in a pot on stovetop over medium-low heat or in a bowl in microwave for 1 min at a time – stirring occasionally. Either way, just be sure to bring internal temp to 165° F.

#ALilSpiceIsNice #RainyDayFood

Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 80 g diced yellow onion (about 1 small)
• 1 lb 93% lean ground beef
• 2 tsp Nearly Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2.4 g (1/2 tsp) kosher salt
• 149 g 1/2″ pieces green bell pepper (about 1 large)
• 149 g 1/2″ pieces red bell pepper (about 1 large)
• 149 g 1/2″ pieces yellow bell pepper (about 1 large)
• 2 (14 oz) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes (DON’T DRAIN!)
• 1 (10 oz) can no salt added diced tomatoes with green chiles (DON’T DRAIN!)
• 3/4 cup Thai Jasmine long grain rice, rinsed and drained
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1/2 cup freshly shredded reduced fat sharp Cheddar cheese
• Optional Garnishes: additional cheese, chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. Heat a large stock pot, over medium-high heat on stovetop.
2. Add 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and heat.
3. Add 80 g diced yellow onion and 1 lb 93% lean ground beef and cook, breaking up beef to desired size as it cooks – until beef is just fully cooked (about 7 mins).
4. Drain excess fat.
5. Stir in 2 tsp Nearly Italian Seasoning, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and 2.4 g (1/2 tsp) kosher salt.
6. Add 149 g 1/2″ pieces green bell pepper, 149 g 1/2″ pieces red bell pepper, and 149 g 1/2″ pieces yellow bell pepper and cook 1 min.
7. Stir in undrained 2 (14 oz) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes and undrained 1 (10 oz) can no salt added diced tomatoes with green chiles.
8. Add rinsed and drained 3/4 cup Thai Jasmine long grain rice and 4 cups low-sodium beef broth.
9. Increase to high heat and bring to a boil.
10. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 25 mins. Your rice should be tender at this point – if it isn’t, cook until it is.
11. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat sharp Cheddar cheese – a bit at a time – constantly stirring so that it fully melts.

NUTRITION FACTS
Servings	8
Amount Per Serving	13.2 oz (375 g)
Calories	375
		% Daily Value*
Total Fat	13 g	17%
Saturated Fat	4.6 g	23%
Trans Fat	0.15 g
Monounsaturated Fat	5.3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	1.9 g
Cholesterol	70 mg	23%
Sodium	535 mg	23%
Total Carbohydrate	35 g	13%
Dietary Fiber	4.5 g	16%
Total Sugars	6 g
Added Sugars	0 g
Sugar Alcohols	0 g
Protein	27 g
Vitamin D	0.25 mcg	1%
Calcium	155 mg	12%
Iron	3.7 mg	21%
Potassium	760 mg	16%
Vitamin A	130 mcg RAE	14%
Vitamin C	91 mg	101%
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.