Microwave chilli bean stuffed pepper
Stuffed peppers are traditionally baked in the oven, but with this recipe you can have them in half the time. Cooking them in the microwave is great when you are cooking for one as it saves you the cost of heating the oven.
This recipe is part of a budget microwave meal plan for one. In March 2023, it was costed at an average total of £2.09 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard.
Ingredients
- 250ml/9fl oz just-boiled water from a kettle
- ½ chicken or vegetable stock cube
- 60²µ/2¼´Ç³ú long-grain rice (see Recipe Tip below)
- ½ x 400g tin beans in chilli sauce
- 1 large pepper, any colour
- 25g/1oz cheddar, finely grated
- pinch dried chilli flakes, to sprinkle (optional)
- 1–2 pitta breads, or crusty bread
- ground black pepper
Method
Pour the just-boiled water into a large microwaveable bowl – it will need be large enough to hold at least 2 litres of water. Put on a microwaveable plate.
Stir in the stock cube until dissolved, then add the rice and beans in chilli sauce. Cover with a second microwaveable plate. Cook on HIGH for 13 minutes (1000W) or 14 minutes (800W), stirring halfway. Remove from the microwave and leave to stand.
Cut the pepper in half from the stalk to the base and scoop out and discard any seeds. Place the pepper on a microwaveable plate or shallow dish, cut-side down. Cook, uncovered, on HIGH for 4 minutes (1000W), 5 minutes (800W), or until just softened. Turn cut side up.
Spoon the rice mixture into the pepper halves and sprinkle with the cheese. Cook, uncovered, on HIGH for about a minute or until the cheese melts. Sprinkle with chilli flakes, if using.
Warm the pitta bread, or any other bread, on a microwaveable plate for 20–30 seconds on HIGH. (Don’t overheat or it could toughen.) Serve with the stuffed peppers.
Recipe Tips
For a quicker filling for the peppers, use half a sachet of microwave rice instead of cooking from scratch. It’s more expensive than the dried rice but generally a pack doesn’t cost more than 50p. Heat according to the pack instructions then add to the beans and heat together for about 2 minutes before using to fill the peppers.
If you don’t have a large enough bowl in which to cook the rice in the microwave, boil as usual then drain, mix with the beans and continue as above.
Use any variety of chilli beans you like for the filling. The recipe has been costed as part of the Budget Microwave Meal Plan for One, so if following the plan, you’ll need to use half here and half with the Jacket Potato with Tuna and Spicy Beans.
If following the Budget Microwave Meal Plan for One, you will have some lettuce and tomatoes leftover from the Spicy Chicken Pittas that you can serve alongside the stuffed peppers. You can also make a salad of your choice or serve just as they are.
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