STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Ingredients

* 4 large bell peppers
* 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
* 1 cup cooked rice
* 1 small onion, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 cup tomato sauce
* 1 tbsp tomato paste
* 1 tsp Italian seasoning
* ½ tsp paprika
* ½ tsp salt
* ½ tsp black pepper
* 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
* 2 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Sauté onion and garlic for 2–3 minutes, then add ground beef and cook until browned.
3. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add cooked rice and mix well.
5. Fill each bell pepper with the beef and rice mixture and place them in a baking dish.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
7. Remove the foil, top with cheese, and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and golden.
8. Serve hot and enjoy!