Stuffed bell peppers / capsicums is a flavourful dish with rice fillings and cheese on top.  Stuffed peppers are quite exotic dish which is very simple to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 3 nos – Bell peppers ( mixed colors)
• 1 tbsp – Coriander leaves
• 1/4 cup – Grated cheese ( i used cheddar and mozzarella)
• 1 tsp – Olive oil (for brushing bell peppers)
• 1tsp – Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper powder as needed

For rice filling:

• 2 cups – Cooked rice (preferably basmati rice)
• 1 no – Onion (chopped finely)
• 1/4 cup – Corn kernels ( fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cup – Paneer (small cubes)
• 1 tsp – Ginger garlic paste
• 1 tsp – Cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp – Coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp – Olive oil
• Salt and pepper powder as needed

Preparation method:

For rice filling:

1. Heat oil in a pan, season with cumin seeds, followed by chopped onion, ginger garlic paste, saute until translucent.
2. Add corn kernels along with little salt, saute until they are half cooked. Then add chopped paneer, saute for few seconds, immediately add cooked rice and mix well everything.
3. Add required salt and pepper, cook until corn and paneer is well cooked. Finally garnish with coriander leaves. Rice filling is ready and keep it aside.

For baking:

1. Cut the bell peppers into two equal halves as shown in the picture. Scoop out the seeds neatly with the help of a knife. Wash it thoroughly and pat dry with paper towel.
2. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, required salt and pepper powder and rub this marinade liberally inside and outside of bell peppers. Allow them to sit for 15 to 20 mins.
3. Meanwhile preheat oven to 350 F or 180 C, now stuff bell peppers with scoops of rice fillings, sprinkle some cheese and coriander leaves on top(see the picture for more details). Bake them in the oven for 10 to 15 mins or until bell peppers are well cooked and cheese melts. Stuffed bell peppers are ready and serve with raita.

Notes:

• You can use any colored bell peppers / capsicum in this recipe.
• You can flavour your rice filling with Indian spices like garam masala, fennel seeds etc.