Stuffed Peppers With Lamb And Eggplant Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, including the stems. Using a sharp paring knife, scoop out some of the flesh, leaving a shell that is 1/3 inch thick and reserving the scooped-out eggplant. Place the eggplant shells snugly in a single layer in a large (10-by-14-inch) rectangular baking dish. Brush the eggplant all over with 1/4 cup olive oil (use it all!) and sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour 1/4 cup water in the baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes, until the shells are tender when pierced with a small knife. Remove from the oven, discard the foil, and leave the oven on.
• Meanwhile, for the lamb filling, in a large (12-inch) skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally, until tender. Cut the reserved scooped-out eggplant into 1/2-inch dice (you should have about 2 cups). Add the eggplant to the onion and cook for 5 minutes, adding more oil if it seems dry. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the ground lamb and cook, mashing lightly with a fork, for 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink. Add the oregano and cinnamon and cook for one minute. Add the wine, tomatoes, marinara, parsley, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the liquid evaporates. Spoon the filling into the eggplant halves in the baking dish. (You may have a little extra filling.)
• In a medium bowl, mash the ricotta, goat cheese, egg yolks, mint, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with a fork. With a spoon, place large dollops of the ricotta mixture on the lamb filling and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the filling is hot and the topping is lightly browned. Serve warm, sprinkled with extra mint.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove the tops from the peppers and scoop out the seeds and ribs. Carefully trim the bottoms if necessary to make peppers stand straight when upright. Place a steamer rack over a few inches of boiling water, or set a colander over a couple of inches boiling water in a large stock pot. Place the peppers in the steamer and cover. Steam 10 minutes, and remove to a baking dish or casserole.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the orzo and brown lightly, and then add 1/2 the garlic and stir. After 30 seconds stir in the water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 15 minutes. Spread the orzo onto a baking sheet and cool.
• Place the ground lamb in a bowl and add the cooled orzo. Season with 1/2 the marjoram, the rosemary, 2 tablespoons parsley, and season with salt, and pepper. Overstuff the peppers with the filling. Drizzle about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil over the peppers, pouring about 1 tablespoon over top of each. Arrange the peppers in a casserole or small baking dish and roast 50 minutes to 1 hour, until crispy at the edges and cooked through.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, cubanelle peppers, remaining garlic, remaining marjoram, and saute until soft. Add the tomato sauce, and season with salt, and pepper.
• Cool the peppers and sauce for a make-ahead meal or serve immediately.
• For reheating: Add 1/2 cup water to the baking dish, and place in a heated 375 degree F oven, covered until warmed throughout, about 30 minutes. Uncover and let the water evaporate, and crisp the top, 20 minutes more. Reheat the sauce over medium-low heat to heat through.
• Serve the peppers hot with sauce over top, or in a puddle underneath the peppers. Top with crumbled feta.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cut off the tops of each pepper. Pull out the ribs and seeds and discard. Discard the stems and dice the pepper tops. Set aside. Lightly trim the bottoms of each pepper so they can stand up.
• Stand the peppers up on a baking sheet or large skillet and drizzle with oil. Season with salt and pepper then roast until they begin to soften, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, jalapenos and onions and cook until the onions are translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the diced pepper tops and eggplant and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and begin to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice and mix to combine. Add the wine and cook until it is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 cups water and the crushed tomatoes and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the rice is creamy and al dente, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove the saucepot from the heat and stir in the mascarpone and basil. Taste for seasoning, adding additional salt and pepper if needed.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Fill each pepper with the rice mixture, then stand them up on the same baking sheet or large skillet and top with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Serve topped with more torn basil and a drizzle of oil.

Steps:

• Peel the eggplants lengthwise in 1/2-inch strips "zebra-style," leaving a 1/2-inch strip of skin between each peel. Trim off long stems so eggplant will fit in pan. Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan. In batches, fry eggplant until golden all over and beginning to soften, turning frequently. Transfer eggplant to a baking dish, placing them side by side, and cut a deep slit lengthwise in each eggplant. Set aside.
• Heat the butter in the skillet, add the onions and saute until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the lamb and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bell peppers and salt, and saute until all the juices are absorbed, about 5 more minutes. Stir in the parsley, and lemon juice, adjust seasonings and remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Stuff the eggplants tightly with the ground lamb mixture, enlarging the opening with your hand. Add a little water to the baking dish, cover, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplants are very tender.

Steps:

• Place peppers in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes to soften, drain thoroughly set aside.
• Pour oil in large skillet, stir in eggplant and garlic
• Cook until eggplant is soft, approximately 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Stir bread crumbs into eggplant mixture; toss until bread crumbs are moistened.
• Stir in basil, parmesan cheese,pepper, goat cheese, parsley and pine nuts.
• Fill softened peppers with filling.
• Place peppers in oiled 9 x 13 pan. Pour about 1 cup water into pan.
• Bake in oven covered for about 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• Cover each pepper with marinara sauce.
• Return to oven for another 10 minutes.