Exquisite Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Do you want to learn how to prepare healthy quinoa stuffed peppers?  We are going to present two types of recipe, one suitable for vegetarians and another that includes chicken meat. As always, we can substitute meat products with vegetable preparations such as tofu or seitan, to adapt the recipe to the consumption of vegetarian or vegan diets.

Quinoa stuffed peppers with chicken

This way of preparing quinoa stuffed peppers includes chicken and some varieties of vegetables. As a final result we obtain a recipe rich in proteins, antioxidants and essential minerals. In addition, it is low in calories and suitable for any type of diet.

Ingredients

• Chicken breast (200 g)
• 3 green peppers
• 1/2 zucchini
• 1/2 aubergine
• 1 leek
• 1 onion
• Mushrooms (100 g)
• Quinoa (150 g)
• Salt, pepper and garlic powder
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Grated havarti cheese (or whatever melts well)

Preparation mode

• First, cut the peppers in half, remove the seeds, remove any impurities that may have and wash them.

• Next, place them in a suitable ovenproof dish and cook at 180º for about 15 minutes or until the pepper softens without being completely done.
• While the peppers are in the oven, put extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Then, peel and julienne the zucchini, leek, onion, eggplant and mushrooms. Add them to the pan and cook for 20 minutes.
• Next, clean and cut the chicken breast into strips and add it to the pan to brown.
• Wash the quinoa to remove the saponins it contains and add it to the fire along with 500 ml of water. Cook until all the water evaporates and is the consistency you want.
• Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Arrange the mixture of quinoa, chicken and vegetables in the peppers that we have previously cooked and sprinkle with grated cheese.
• Gratin in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
• Your recipe is ready.

Bechamel for your peppers stuffed with quinoa

This dish is very good for a béchamel to gratin with the cheese, but increases its caloric and fat value. In case you want to add it, use the following recipe to achieve a fine and creamy texture:

Ingredients

• 2 glasses of whole milk or vegetable drink (400 ml)
• 1/4 of cup of butter or vegetable margarine (50 g)
• 1/3 cup of wheat flour (100 g)
• Salt and nutmeg

Preparation mode

• Put a saucepan over low heat and add the butter.
• Once it is undone, add the flour and sauté for about 10 minutes without stopping to stir, until the flour loses its raw flavor.
• Add the milk little by little, better if it is at room temperature. Mix the preparation with the help of some rods to achieve a homogeneous texture without lumps.
• Add the salt and nutmeg to taste.

Once the bechamel is prepared, you just have to add it to the recipe just before gratin in the oven.

Quinoa and broccoli stuffed peppers

For fans of vegan and vegetarian diets we also have a proposal to make peppers stuffed with quinoa. In this case, we suggest adding broccoli and other healthy vegetables such as zucchini, cherry tomatoes and garlic. Let’s do it!

Ingredients

• 3 red bell peppers
• Quinoa (80 g)
• 1/2 broccoli
• 1 zucchini
• Cherry tomatoes (100 g)
• 1 clove garlic
• Salt, pepper and oregano
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon curry (optional)

Preparation mode

• First, in a saucepan, cook the previously washed and rinsed quinoa for about 20 minutes or until you do not know that it is just cooked.
• Meanwhile, peel and slice the onion, broccoli, zucchini, garlic, and cherry tomatoes.

• Next, add the vegetables to a pan over medium heat with extra virgin olive oil and cook until they are poached.
• Mix the quinoa previously cooked with the sauce and add salt, pepper, oregano and curry to taste.
• Subsequently, cut the peppers in half, wash and remove the seeds and possible impurities.
• Place them in a source suitable for heat and spread the mixture of vegetables and quinoa to fill each pepper.
• Put the tray in the oven, previously heated to 180 degrees with heat up and down for 25 minutes.
• Finally, take it out of the oven and let it warm for a few minutes.

Like the previous recipe, we can add bechamel or grated cheese, or in this case to continue being a vegan dish, vegetable milk bechamel and vegan cheese (with cashews or nutritional yeast).

Still not trying these quinoa stuffed peppers? Choose the version that you like the most and prepare it to enjoy at your lunches or dinners.