Welcome to our kitchen! Today, we’re going to prepare a delicious and wholesome dish – Millet and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers. This recipe combines nutritious millets with savory mushrooms and aromatic herbs, all stuffed into sweet bell peppers for a satisfying meal. Let’s get started!

Ingredients

• 4 Bell Peppers (any color), tops removed and seeds removed
• 1 cup mixed Millets (such as a combination of foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and little millet)
• 2 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 small Onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 cup Mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
• 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Fresh Parsley or Basil for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing Bell Peppers

1. Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Prepare bell peppers: Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Place them upright in a baking dish.
3. Par-cook peppers (optional): If desired, you can par-cook the bell peppers by blanching them in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. This step ensures they become tender during baking.

Step 2: Cooking Millets and Mushrooms

1. Cook millets: Rinse millets under cold water and drain. In a saucepan, bring vegetable broth to a boil. Add millets, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until millets are tender and liquid is absorbed.
2. Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Cook mushrooms: Add chopped mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes until mushrooms release their moisture and start to brown.
4. Season: Stir in dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
5. Combine: Add cooked millets to the skillet with mushrooms. Mix well to combine all ingredients evenly.

Step 3: Stuffing and Baking

1. Stuff peppers: Spoon the millet and mushroom mixture into the prepared bell peppers, pressing gently to pack it in.
2. Bake: Place stuffed bell peppers in the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until peppers are tender and filling is heated through.
3. Garnish and serve: Remove from oven and garnish with fresh parsley or basil. Serve Millet and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers hot as a satisfying main dish.