Stuffed Peppers with Curried Quinoa

Start by cooking the quinoa according to the directions on the package. You can do this the night before to help save some time.

In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Wash each bell pepper under cold water, stand it upright and cut down the middle, lengthwise. You should end up with 8 halves. Remove the seeds and membranes.

When the water is boiling, add each pepper half (3 or 4 at a time) into the water and let them blanch for 3-5 minutes. Then remove them from the water using a slotted spoon and repeat with the rest of the peppers. After you have blanched all the peppers, arrange the pepper boats cut side up in a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a large, deep skillet spray with some nonstick spray and let it heat up over medium heat. Add the onion and cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until they start to get tender. Add the frozen meatless crumbles (brand of your choosing) and warm through. Add the water and cook another 2 minutes.

Next add the corn, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce (you can find vegan brands at Whole Foods or other specialty food stores), garlic, dried oregano, ground cumin, curry powder, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and Franks Red Hot sauce. Give the whole thing a good stir and let it cook for 5 or 6 minutes.

Add in the cooked quinoa and stir to combine well. Add the salt and pepper and give it a taste. Cover and let it cook for 5-10 minutes then remove from heat. Taste and adjust your spices if needed.

Distribute the mixture evenly among the bell pepper boats. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 F, then cook under the broiler on high for 2 minutes. The whole thing is done when the peppers are browned and slightly crisped.

Optional garnish: chopped parsley.

You can easily make this a non-vegan meal by sprinkling a little Parmesan cheese (or whichever cheese you prefer) on top of each pepper boat before baking. You can also make this meat-friendly by using your favorite ground meat instead of the meatless crumbles and regular Worcestershire sauce instead of vegan.