In Louisiana, we love to stuff our dishes. This week, I'm sharing two stuffed dishes
8 medium assorted bell peppers (about 3 pounds)
3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 pound tasso, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pievces
1 cup chopped red onion
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
2 1/3 cups chicken stock
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
Creole seasoning to taste
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350℉.
Cut 1/2 inch off top of stem end of each bell pepper. (Reserve tops; discard seeds and membranes.) Place peppers in a 3 1/2 quart oval baking dish.
In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink on outside, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove chicken using slotted spoon, and place in a bowl.
Add tasso and andouille to Dutch oven; cook. stirring occasionally, until meat has lightly browned and released drippings, 5 to 8 minutes. (Reduce heat as necessary to prevent over-browning.) Remove tasso mixture using slotted spoon, and transfer to bowl with chicken, reserving drippings in Dutch oven.
Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, chopped bell pepper, celery, and garlic to pot; cook stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. dd rice; cook , stirring constantly, until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in stock, tomatoes, and bay leaf. Return chicken mixture to pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes, scraping browned bits from bottom of Dutch oven well towards end of cooking time.
Discard bay leaf; add thyme. Season rice with Creole seasoning. Spoon rice mixture into peppers, mounding high (about 1 cup each). Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; cover with reserved tops. Pour 1/2 cup I bottom of baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake until peppers are tender and stuffing is heated through, 20 to 25 minutes more. Serve Immediately.
Enjoy!!!
Creole & Cajun Comfort Food is now available online in both Hardback and Paperback versions.
Good Cooking, Good Eating and Good Living!!!
