Vegetarian / Greek Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup diced zucchini
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
3 chopped canned artichokes, drained
½ cup chopped black olives
1 teaspoon dried oregano flakes or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoon salt
6 medium bell peppers (green, orange, red, and/or yellow)
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 ½ tablespoons pine nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place artichokes in a food processor, and pulse until artichokes are chopped well. Set aside. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and zucchini. Cook 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Lower heat, and add garlic. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly so garlic doesn’t burn. Add tomato sauce, artichokes, olives, oregano, parsley, and salt. Cook 15 minutes, or until sauce is thickened.

While sauce is cooking, prepare peppers. Cut in half lengthwise, and remove stems and seeds. Place peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain in colander, and place in a large baking dish. When sauce is finished, mix in the quinoa and pine nuts. Stir well. Spoon mixture evenly into pepper halves. Add hot water to dish to a depth of ½ inch. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: about 2 pepper halves)

Recipe Notes

• Increase the protein content of this dish by adding 1 (15-ounce) can great northern beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained.
• Use brown rice instead of quinoa.
• Add chopped fresh spinach leaves to the rice mixture.