Meatless Mondays - Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy vegetarian food. Each Monday we will feature a new vegetarian recipe that is nutritious and delicious. We hope you enjoy trying these dishes. Bon Appetit!

This recipe for Quinoa Stuffed Peppers is courtesy of the Vegetarian Times Magazine. Quinoa is a great source of protein and iron and the peppers are full of vitamins C, A and B6.

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped (1 cup)

• 2 Tbs. olive oil

• 2 ribs celery, finely chopped (½ cup)

• 1 Tbs. ground cumin

• 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

• 1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

• 2 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved

• 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

• ¾ cup quinoa

• 3 large carrots, grated (1½ cups)

• 1½ cups grated reduced-fat pepper Jack cheese, divided

• 4 large red bell peppers, halved lengthwise, ribs removed

1. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add cumin and garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in spinach and drained tomatoes. Cook 5 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.

2. Stir in black beans, quinoa, carrots, and 2 cups water. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender. Stir in 1 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour liquid from tomatoes in bottom of baking dish.

4. Fill each bell pepper half with heaping ¾-cup quinoa mixture, and place in baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake 1 hour. Uncover, and sprinkle each pepper with 1 Tbs. remaining cheese. Bake 15 minutes more, or until tops of stuffed peppers are browned. Let stand 5 minutes. Transfer stuffed peppers to serving plates, and drizzle each with pan juices before serving.