Stuffed Peppers in Arab Style (Fil Fil Mahshi)

We wash the rice under a stream of cold water, making sure to remove impurities and excess starch. After rinsing it well, we let the rice swell a little in cold water to improve its texture and facilitate cooking. In the meantime, we start preparing the other ingredients.

In a medium pot, we bring water with fresh tomato juice to a boil, also adding tomato paste for a more intense flavor. We sprinkle a little salt, which will help flavor the sauce. As the water begins to boil, we take care of the peppers. We wash the peppers and, using a sharp knife, cut off their tops, making sure to remove the seeds and white parts, which can be bitter.

In a large bowl, we mix the ground meat with finely chopped onion, drained rice, and our favorite spices, which can include salt, pepper, paprika, or thyme to taste. We add finely chopped herbs, such as parsley or dill, to give the dish an extra freshness. Finally, we add a little oil to provide moisture to the mixture.

We fill each pepper about 3/4 of the way full, being careful not to fill them completely, as the rice will expand during cooking. After filling all the peppers, we place them in a pot, in which we previously added a little oil to prevent sticking. We carefully pour the hot tomato-water mixture over them. We cover the pot with a lid or a smaller plate than its diameter to keep them below the sauce level.

We put everything on low heat and let it simmer for about 40-45 minutes until the rice has swollen and the peppers become soft but not mushy. It is important to check periodically to ensure that the sauce does not reduce too much. In the end, the stuffed peppers with meat and rice are served warm, alongside the delicious sauce that formed during cooking, providing a hearty and flavorful dish. Enjoy your meal!

 Ingredients: Ingredients: 4 bell peppers 300 g minced meat (beef) 1 onion 4 tablespoons of rice 700 ml water 100 ml tomato juice with tomato pulp 2 tablespoons of tomato paste salt pepper oil chopped parsley, dill, and a little mint 1/4 teaspoon of each: ground cumin, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground coriander, paprika, a pinch of ground nutmeg, and ground cardamom.

 Tags:  onion greenness meat rice tomatoes pepper oil life stuffed peppers