Trying to think of something yummy to make for dinner midweek can get a bit tiresome and I often find myself bashing of the same meals week in, week out. A slowcooker is seriously one of the best inventions for the busy modern-day family – you can literally cook almost anything in it and the end result is always yummo. I often make stuffed capsicums in the oven but as they take a bit of time to cook in the oven it’s one of those I would ordinarily save for the weekend….until a little ‘light’ turned on in my head and I popped them in the slow cooker – these are seriously good and have now jazzed up our midweek meal menu! (and better yet the kids love it too).
Just stuff your capsicums in the morning, pop them in the slow cooker while you’re away at work and you will walk into the aroma of herby roast capsicums.
Ingredients:
6 Capsicums (or large sweet peppers)
2 cups of medium grain White rice, uncooked
2 tbsp olive oil (your choice of oil)
3- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1 cup frozen peas
1 eggplant, diced
1/3 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup fresh chopped dill
1/4 cup fresh chopped mint
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1 tbsp of vegetta or vegetable stock powder (optional)
salt & pepper
Method:
1. Cut the tops from capsicums and reserve. Remove the seeds and white pith using a spoon and discard.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy based saucepan and add onion and garlic and stir for 2-3 minutes. Add the rice and continue to cook for a further 3 minutes. Stir in the fresh herbs, peas, eggplant, tomato paste & stock powder. Season with salt and pepper and turn off the heat.
3. Spoon the rice mixture into the capsicums, fill till about 1.5cms from the tops of the capsicum as the rice will expand when cooked. Place the cut capsicum tops back on top of the capsicums.
4. Turn yor slowcooker on to the low setting. Place the capsicums into the slowcooker (upright) and pour in enough water that it covers about 1 inch of the base of your slowcooker. Place the lid on and allow to cook for 6-8 hours (or until rice is soft).
Serve with your choice of vegetable or salad.
