Bell Peppers Stuffed with Pumpkin Rice - Wholesome, healthy, gluten free and a perfect lunch option for lazy weekends
Bell Peppers Stuffed with Pumpkin Rice
It’s the start to the week and a maiden post on a group I have recently joined called Foodie Monday BlogHop with a group of talented bloggers. The Theme for the #163 FoodieMondayBlogHop is Pumpkin Treats and I decided to do something different than the regular South Indian recipes that uses Pumpkin on a large scale.
Presenting Bell Peppers Stuffed with Pumpkin Rice. I usually make this at home on weekends when I don’t like cooking elaborate stuff and just serve this along with a raita or sometimes plain dahi or curd, pickles and papad. This is a complete meal with a mix of vegetables and rice.
I like the flavor combination of the sweet pumpkin mixed with the flavourful Basmati Rice, mild Indian Spices and the crunchy bits of bell peppers. This no onion and garlic, gluten free, vegan rice variety is the perfect main course recipe which has the goodness of both rice and vegetables. This is also easy to carry in a lunch box to work or pack in kids tiffin box for the long break. Needless to say, I have not used a lot of oil in cooking this.
This recipe would be perfect if you plan to host a small party at home or a casual get together with a bunch of friends and don’t want to cook much, yet want to please the crowd with your culinary skills. This recipe fits the bill perfectly.
Being a south Indian, I have always adored Mathan or Pumpkin way too much. This is a must buy vegetable every week for me and I make a variety of things like the Pumpkin with Fenugreek Seeds Sabzi for its umpteen health benefits or the Avial which is the south Indian version of Mix vegetables in a coconut gravy or the very recent post on Pumpkin Oambal which is an Assamese Chutney.
Another vegetable, I am particularly fond of and always seem to make way into my grocery bag is the Bell Peppers or Shimla Mirch. I add them to salads, sabzis or stuff them with a variety of options.
While Potatoes are the best bet to stuff into a bell pepper, on days when I am not in a mood to cook a variety, I like stuffing the bell peppers with a stir fried rice either with mixed vegetables or paneer etc and then have it with a Raita during summers or a piping hot dal for winters.
This recipe also works well if you have some leftover rice which can be stir fried with some pumpkins and then stuffed into a bell pepper or Shimla mirch. I have tried this with a Basmati Rice as its flavourful, you can however, opt for a non-fragrant rice variety too.
Any Raita would go perfectly well with this dish and especially during hot days, it’s the perfect alternative than a heavy gravy sabzi. If you are looking for Raita options, do try the Zucchini and Cucumber Pachadi or Raita or the Mixed Vegetable Raita.
Or if you are looking to add a protein element, opt for a Dal - The Gujarati Trevti Dal or the Lauki Dal with a South Indian touch are two such great options from the blog.
Try this Main Course Rice option and be assured that your family will love you for this wholesome and tasty meal idea.
Sending this recipe for the #163 FoodieMondayBlogHop where the theme was Pumpkin Treats
Recipe for Bell Peppers Stuffed with Pumpkin Rice with step by step pics
Prep Time - 15 mins + 30 mins of soaking the rice.
Cook Time - 30 mins (including Basmati Rice)
Serves 2
Ingredients for the Pumpkin Rice
- 1 Cup of Pumpkin, peeled and diced into cubes
- 1 cup of Cooked Basmati Rice
- 4 medium sized Bell Peppers or Shimla Mirch, deseeded
- ½ tsp of Red chilli powder or Lal Mirch
- ½ tsp of Turmeric powder or Haldi
- 2 tsps of oil for cooking the rice + 1 tblsp for cooking the stuffed peppers
- 1 tsp of Jeera or Cumin seeds
- Salt as per taste
Method
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- Heat a kadhai or non-stick pan, add oil
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- Now add cumin seeds followed by the cubed pumpkin pieces.
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- Stir this well and then add the salt, red chilli powder and turmeric powder.
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- Give it a good toss, add a tblsp of water and close the kadhai or pan with a lid and allow the pumpkin to cook for 3 to 5 odd minutes.
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- The pumpkin should retain its texture and not turn mushy as they further cook in the bell peppers.
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- Once the pumpkin is cooked, add the rice and mix well. Let it cook for few seconds and then switch off the flame.
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- Heat a pan and add the 1 tblsp oil.
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- Meanwhile, stuff the bell peppers with this rice and pumpkin mixture and place them slowly on the hot pan.
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- Sprinkle some salt over the peppers, Cover with a lid and allow it cook.
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- I love the charred bits of peppers so I roast them accordingly on high heat for some time and then turn the knob to low for even cooking of the peppers.
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- After 10 minutes, the peppers would be cooked and its time to plate it.
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- I normally retain some rice and place it on the bed of the serving dish, before placing the peppers. They look stunning on a dinner table.
- Enjoy it piping hot with your choice of accompaniments or it can be enjoyed on its own too.
Vidya Narayan
First of all welcome to the group Vidya ! We love stuffed bell peppers and your version of using pumpkin and rice as stuffing is so innovative ! Filling , healthy and delicious . Perfect for weekends. Great share on the theme.
Thank for the warm welcome Poonam and glad you loved the recipe.
This recipe for Bell peppers stuffed with pumpkin rice looks just what one would need for a special occasion - a dinner party for friends or a festival meal. Love the images, Vidya, and oh, that blue backdrop!
Never heard of Pumpkin Rice before ! Looks Delish ?
Smitha, thanks dear.
Woooo hoo, Pumpkin rice and stuffed in pepper!! should id say double treat. I can't get enough of the recipe for the pumpkin rice, I am going to use up the other half of the pumpkin for this right away.
Thanks Seema and I hope you enjoy your other half of pumpkin with my recipe. Cheers!
This is so innovative! ?? We love stuffed bell peppers, and I like the idea of stuffing them with pumpkin rice. Thank you so much for this unusual recipe!
My pleasure Priya!
Loved your simple yet delicious recipe. Always love one pot meal. And bell pepper stuffed rice is a great idea. Waiting to try it some time. I also like basmati rice because not only its flavourful but for the look. Long grain rice looks great. Loved your well explained recipe.
I agree about the Basmati Rice for such recipes. Look, feel and aroma is unmatched. Thank you Sujataji.
Looks delicious.
thanks so much
Wonderful recipe!
Thanks so much
looks great vidhya. Beautiful pic too!
Thanks so much
Love this innovative recipe Vidya!!A perfect meal so well presented.Stunning entry to the bloghop.
Thank you Preethi. First entry has to be always dhamakedaar. ha ha ..
I always in for of ONE POT meal. This one i think'll be a sure shot hit at my place. Love the stuffing using bell pepper. Awesome share for theme 🙂
Thank you Sasmita.
Wow love the inclusion of pumpkin in the stuffed capsicum..very unusual.A warm welcome to the Bloghop group.
Thank you Saswati for the warm welcome and glad you liked the dish.
Welcome to the group vidya:). Pumpkin and rice togther is new to me and looks very delicious. Perfect share
Thanks Veena, do try - I am sure you would love it.
I've not made stuffed peppers on a stove, usually bake it.. love your idea of making them in a pan. Adding pumpkin rice as stuffing makes its a filling and wholesome meal.. a great alternate to potato stuffing.
I totally agree to this being an alternative to potato filling and is great on weekends with just a side of raita. Thanks Mayuri
Luvd this stuffing variation ?
Thanks so much
This recipe is so innovative,filled with flavour and delightful to look at.Perfectly cooked rice stuffed in Capsicum cups..yumm!Treat for the eyes and palate!
Thanks so much dear. Wish you were here for me to feed you some.