THIS is what happens when I don't have to make the husband or the child happy with dinner. Here's the story... We have a TON of leftovers from a get together we had this weekend but nothing I really want to eat, again (fried chicken) so I decided to simply cook for me and let the boys fend for themselves.
It.was.WONDERFUL!
No dirty looks. No questions. No arguing. No dealing. I simply cooked what I wanted and enjoy a pretty, healthy, vegetable filled meal.
Is it sad that I like to cook for myself? I mean, I'd love a family that was more adventurous but since they aren't I look for opportunities like tonight to experiment. It makes me happy. 🙂 
- ½ sweet onion diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 2 celery stalks (with leaves) diced
- 2 tsp curry powder
- ½ tsp turmeric (You can skip if you don't have it)
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup uncooked quinoa (84g)
- About 2 cups baby spinach loosely chopped
- 2 bell peppers (I used yellow)
- kosher salt
Preheat oven to 425 Degrees
Heat a pot medium pot over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray and saute the onion, carrots and celery with a pinch or two of salt. Continue cooking and stirring for a few minutes until the onion softens and look a little transparent.
Add the curry and turmeric. Stir to coat everything. Then add the water and quinoa. Bring to a boil then cover and lower to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed.
Meanwhile. Half the peppers longways and remove the seeds. Place in a casserole dish and sprinkle with a bit of salt.
When the quinoa is done, mix in the spinach. It should start to wilt immediately. Then stuff the peppers sprinkle with a little more salt and pop in the oven for about 10 minutes.
Here's a few more pics because they are so darn pretty!
And even though the little guy didn't eat them he was fascinated by the photo taking. 🙂
| Servings | Amt per Serving | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 Stuffed Pepper Halves | |||
| Calories | Fat | Fiber | WWPs | |
| 20 | 3g | 8g | old: 5 | new: 6 |
| Sugar | Sat Fat | Carbs | Protein | |
| 8g | 0g | 48g | 9g | |
Made this tonight and it was really good. I did find I had to had about 1/2 cup more water for my quinoa to completely cook. Also added 1/2 lb ground beef to the mixture. Thanks for the recipe!
I made this tonight for me and my partner. I liked it, she said it was rabbit food and where was the meat. Sigh LOL
Hey there. I just searched for these again because I remembered I wanted to make them... I made a variation - ground beef, quinoa and shredded zucchini with tomato sauce. YUM. I served my guests stuffed peppers and made myself a healthier, lower cal equivalent - I think mine tasted better than theirs 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
My aunt and I made this today, and it was awesome. It was actually a little sweet! my cousin made a mess with the quinoa as well. Roni--we apparently have the same quinoa--there is a lot more in that box than I thought! I can't wait to make it again. I might make it without the pepper as a side dish or mix in chicken. Its a great base recipe as well 🙂
I made these tonight and they were really good, tho I think they could use some garlic or maybe a bit more spice/heat. Still, they were really good and I plan on making them again (or using Alison's suggestion and making them as a taco or wrap sandwich).
Thanks for the recipe!
I saw these on your Twitpic and had to come to the site. This picture is so appealing! I am not a curry person, but this picture makes me want to make stuffed peppers.
Hi Roni,
thanks for your recipe. I loved your previous quinoa slow-cooker recipe and make it quite frequently (with frozen lima beans). I will try making this one too.
For your other reader that asked: I buy quinoa at WholeFoods for 3.99/lb. Haven't found a shop that has it for cheaper.
Had this last night, it was excellent. My husband found it a bit dry, but he likes saucy dishes, I told him next time I'd give him a mango chutney yogurt sauce to go with it. He also wasnt having a bit of peppers with every bite which I found was perfect. I went with red peppers instead of yellow because shockingly they were onsale in february...
Here is a picture of how mine turned out.
http://www.waistingduxie.com/2010/02/monday-monday-monday-february-8th-food-and-exercise-journal.html
The filling would be great in veggie tacos or stuffed in squash for the person who didn't like bell peppers.
Thanks again for another great recipe Roni.
oh and you still have a typo in the recipe when you changed it to 250 calories you made it 20 :p
delicious foot hehehe. nice info
Looks incredible!
This is totally what I'm having for dinner tonight because I'm eating ALONE!! My husband is going out so I can eat whatever goodness I like.
that looks super yummy! I'm not a fan of bell peppers but I would use the filling for something else, maybe veggie tacos?
We go through quinoa quite a bit now, we all love it and use it as a rice substitute, additional filler (ie chili), as a salad ingredient, etc. Now that I know we all like it (the kids usually just put butter on it like rice) I always have it on hand. Buy in bulk and I keep it in a mason/canning jar. It cooks so much faster than rice. love it!
Hi Mary - Sorry I forgot to mention the spinach! I edited the recipe.
Thanks!
-Roni
Roni,
When do you add the spinach? After the Quinoa is cooked and before stuffing peppers?
Thanks. I've never tried Quinoa but I will now.
even bulk, it have only found it for 3.99 a lb. how much do oyu pay?
I hope you poured yourself a glass of wine while you cooked! Ah, to be alone in the kitchen :).
I can completely 1 up you. I cook dinner for myself and then I cook a whole other meal for myself and Jon. I eat most of the first meal I make myself, which is usually vegetable/healthy food oriented. Putting 1/4 aside for lunch/snack the next day and then I make the second meal which usually consists of 70% meat and anything else I feel liek throwing together and I pick at that meal when Jon comes home at night, which is between 10 PM and 11 PM at night. That is why I pick at it, I love eating dinner with him but I can't just sit there and not do anything as he eats so I make a tiny plate for myself and pick at it then pack the rest for his lunch the next day. Its complicated lol
Thanks Alison for chiming in!
Hi Jane - I don't buy it enough to warrant bulk as I'm the only one that will eat it in my house. To be honest, I've had the same package from trader Joes for months, if not a year in my pantry.
You can definitely buy it in bulk, I buy the cream and red at bulk bins, down side I don't think it's prewashed but hey its cheap 😛
where can you find quinoa cheap? can you buy it in bulk? it is at least 4.00/lb every where i look!
That looks amazing! I tried Quinoa for the first time this past weekend, and ran to the store to buy some! It's so good! I will be trying this one! Thanks Roni! 🙂
Lori - Thanks for catching that! It was a typo. Should have been 250 cals!
-Roni
150 cal, 8 g. fiber, 3 g. fat - would,'t that be TWO wwp's? How did you get 5 (4.5)?
OMG those look FANTASTIC! I think I know what my next meatless monday looks like. Thanks Roni.
These look great! I love stuffed peppers and I love the idea of putting quinoa in them. My kids won't touch them either, I make them just for myself too.
Those look so good. Maybe I will say screw the kids and make some for myself too. ;p
i love that you left the stems on the peppers, nice aesthetic touch. and i know what you mean about cooking without questions, resistance, etc... my fella tries to be a good sport but i think the words 'why am i always the guinea pig?!' have been uttered more than once 🙂
People ask me all the time "you cook all those things just for yourself??" and I say of course, I deserve to eat well! And so do you...so keep on experimenting, and I bet someday (maybe when your back is turned) little fingers will be trying your new creations. They are beautiful!