Stuffed Baked Banana Peppers

I stuffed the banana peppers, I baked ’em and I gobbled ’em…

This stuffed, baked banana peppers was one of the main attractions from my kitchen that happened last weekend. I usually make banana pepper fritters which is a common evening snack in India. While buying banana peppers, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it besides frying it. And this time I absolutely didn’t want to fry it, wanted to make something different with it.

Stuff the banana peppers was the first thing that hit my mind, and the second thing that came to my mind was bake ’em. In no time I was seen having fun stuffing and baking the banana peppers. For making the stuffing, I literally threw whatever was found in my refrigerator and pantry into a huge pot and the outcome was unbelievably delish!

I loved the taste of the stuffing so much that I couldn’t resist eating it while stuffing the peppers. Since I had only three peppers to stuff, the leftover stuffing was served as a side dish. The stuffed peppers was then allowed to bake in the oven. I couldn’t wait till the peppers came out charred perfectly out of the oven. As soon as I took the baked peppers out of the oven, just looking at it I had the feeling that it’s going to taste awesome. And the stuffed, baked banana peppers didn’t let me down.

Stuffed Baked Banana Peppers

Ingredients:

• Banana peppers- 3 or more

For making  the stuffing:

• Olive oil- 1 tbsp
• Onion, chopped-1
• Red beans, canned- 1 can
• Yellow Corn- 1/2 can
• Cooked Rice, I used Basmati rice- 2 cups
• Cooked chicken- 1 chicken breast cooked and diced (I used deli fresh chicken loaves sliced)
• Cumin powder- 1 tsp
• Tomato Ketchup- 4 tbsp
• Green onion, chopped- 3 tbsp
• Cheddar cheese grated- 1 cup
• Salt- if needed (taste and add accordingly)

Instruction:

• Place a wide sauce pan over medium heat, add olive oil.
• Add chopped onions, saute for few minutes.
• Drain the canned red beans and yellow corn and rinse it with water.
• Add the beans and corn to the onions, let it cook for few minutes.
• Now, add the cooked rice and combine everything well.

• Add the chopped deli fresh chicken loaves and cook for few minutes.

• Add the cumin powder, tomato ketchup, green onion and give it a good stir.
• Taste it and add salt if needed.
• Finally spread the grated cheddar cheese over it and remove the pan from the stove.

Stuffing the peppers:

• Cut the top part of the banana peppers.
• Remove the seeds from the peppers and stuff the peppers with the stuffing.

• Push the stuffing inside the peppers with a wooden spoon.
• Level the stuffing at the opening of the pepper.

Baking the stuffed peppers:

• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Place the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet or pan lined with aluminum foil which is sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pop it into the oven and let it bake for 20 minutes or until the peppers have become charred.

• Take the baked peppers out of the oven and let it cool down slightly.
• You could serve this as an appetizer or as an entree along with other sides of your choice.
• You could also serve any leftover stuffing along with the baked peppers.

Tips:

• Make sure you don’t over stuff the peppers as some of the stuffing would come out of the peppers while baking.
• Vegans: you could make this without the chicken.

Stuffed Baked Banana Peppers

 

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Ingredients

• Banana peppers- 3 or more

For making the stuffing

• Olive oil- 1 tbsp
• Onion, chopped-1
• Red beans, canned- 1 can
• Yellow Corn- ½ can
• Cooked Rice, I used Basmati rice- 2 cups
• Chicken loaf, deli fresh, cooked (optional), chopped- 2-3 slices
• Cumin powder- 1 tsp
• Tomato Ketchup- 4 tbsp
• Green onion, chopped- 3 tbsp
• Cheddar cheese grated- 1 cup
• Salt- if needed (taste and add accordingly)

Instructions

1. Place a wide sauce pan over medium heat, add olive oil.
2. Add chopped onions, saute for few minutes.
3. Drain the canned red beans and yellow corn and rinse it with water.
4. Add the beans and corn to the onions, let it cook for few minutes.
5. Now, add the cooked rice and combine everything well.
6. Add the chopped deli fresh chicken loaves and cook for few minutes.
7. Add the cumin powder, tomato ketchup, green onion and give it a good stir.
8. Taste it and add salt if needed.
9. Finally spread the grated cheddar cheese over it and remove the pan from the stove.

Stuffing the peppers

1. Cut the top part of the banana peppers.
2. Remove the seeds from the peppers and stuff the peppers with the stuffing.
3. Push the stuffing inside the peppers with a wooden spoon.
4. Level the stuffing at the opening of the pepper.

Baking the stuffed peppers

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Place the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet or pan lined with aluminum foil which is sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Pop it into the oven and let it bake for 20 minutes or until the peppers have become charred.
4. Take the baked peppers out of the oven and let it cool down slightly.
5. You could serve this as an appetizer or as an entree along with other sides of your choice.
6. You could also serve any leftover stuffing along with the baked peppers.

Notes

Make sure you don't over stuff the peppers as some of the stuffing would come out of the peppers while baking.
Vegans: you could make this without the chicken.

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