THEN you find out it’s only 387 calories for a giant stuffed capsicum?? It’s a little food miracle, right there. 🙌

Stuffed Peppers

Anything “stuffed” is infinitely more enticing that the unstuffed counterpart. Stuffed zucchini flowers. Stuffed mushrooms (try these pizza stuffed ones). Stuffed Chicken Breast. And of course, the litany of stuffed sweet treats – Caramel Stuffed Brownies, Nutella Stuffed Brownies, Nutella Stuffed Pancakes. Though to be fair, the unstuffed version of brownies and pancakes are fabulous as they are, and stuffing them takes it to another level. Capsicum, on the other hand, are not so exciting in plain, raw form. But stuffed? They’ve got my name ALL over them. Look at that molten, oozing, cheesy, flavour loaded beef and rice stuffing!!

Bell peppers = capsicum

Just for clarity, what we call “capsicum” here in Australia as well as other countries included NZ, South Africa and India , are known as “bell peppers” or “sweet peppers” in most of the rest of the world. They come in various colours, with red and green being the most popular. I adore the colour of the yellow and orange ones, and usually the first thing I think of when I see them are Fajitas! Both chicken and beef. 🙂

What goes in stuffed peppers

Here’s what I put in my Mexican stuffed peppers. Basically, it’s all the flavourings of everybody’s favourite Ground Beef (Mince) Tacos, plus stuff to make it saucey and juicy (tomato paste and chicken broth) plus rice. I’ve tried a bunch of other filling flavours in the past, but I keep defaulting back to Mexican. Big, punchy flavours for a juicy cheesy, beefy filling. It’s perfect for stuffing inside peppers!

How to make Stuffed Peppers

The making part is straightforward, though the assembling part makes this take a little longer than the usual quick ‘n easy dinners. I like to completely cook the rice with the beef and flavourings on the stove before stuffing into the peppers. I find this to be the safest way to make stuffed peppers, to ensure the rice cooks through completely. In the past, I’ve tried only partially cooking the rice on the stove, but sometimes the rice didn’t finish cooking in the oven. So nowadays I stick with fully cooking the rice on the stove! The other things I like to do which might not be “normal” but is totally fabulous is to stuff a layer of cheese in the middle. Just imagine that moment when you cut into the piping hot Stuffed Capsicum and the layer of cheese comes oozing out…oh wait, there’s not need to imagine. Just watch the video below!

FILLING – and HEALTHY!!!

This recipe makes enough for 5 very generously stuffed peppers (1 should be filling for a grown man), 6 to 7 medium capsicums or 8 to 10 small peppers (great starter idea!). And yet, even for the giant capsicums pictured, these are only 387 calories each! The WHOLE THING – capsicum and rice and beef! Well, it does exclude the sour cream and guacamole. I simply cannot be held responsible for how much guac you pile into your stuffed pepper!! ~ Nagi x

SOME EPIC, LOW CALORIE EATS that are as filling as they are delicious!

Cheesy Tomato Vegetable Pasta – 378 calories for almost 2 cups Hot and Sour Soup – Clocking in at 216 calories for a giant bowl of this spicy Chinese Soup! Creamy Pumpkin Soup – 189 calories for a giant, steaming bowl! Chinese Chicken and Noodle Soup – 332 calories for a piping hot bowl of Chinese Noodle Soup! Browse the Low Cal recipe collection

Watch how to make it

Life of Dozer

Daily update pics on Dozer from the golden retriever boarder while I’m overseas in Vietnam filming my first travel video! Here he is at my local dog beach, Bayview. She takes the gang (her Goldies + the boarders) to the beach 3 to 4 times a week. She’s not even close – she’s 30 minutes away. And have I mentioned that she also works a full time job?? I have no idea how she fits it all in! She’s truly incredible. I couldn’t ask for greater care for Dozer. She looks after him so well, even better than her own dogs I’d say!! 😂 He is spoilt rotten – and he’s as obsessed with her as she is with him. His behaviour around her is unrecognisable – he does as she commands, he has this suck-up tail wag reserved especially for her, he gazes up at her with adoring eyes. It’s seriously unbelievable how much he adores her!

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