Spiced Lamb and Couscous Stuffed Peppers

6 -8 red bell peppers look for similar sizes and shapes so they cook evenly

12 ounces ground lamb

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. cardamom

1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

olive oil

1/2 onion minced

3 cloves garlic minced

1/2 C. pine nuts

2 C. cooked couscous I cook mine in chicken stock for extra flavor

1/4 C. currants

1/2 C. crumbled feta cheese

salt and fresh cracked black pepper

pomegranate molasses optional

1 C. crushed tomatoes or any plain tomato sauce

Yogurt mint sauce

1 C. yogurt

1/2 C. mint leaves

juice of 1 lemon

 

Preheat oven to 350F. Slice the tops off your peppers and reserve. Remove the seeds and veins from the insides of the peppers. Brown the ground lamb and the spices in a skillet, breaking apart the meat as you cook. After it is well crumbled and no longer pink, remove it to a plate. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the pan and sauté the onions and garlic for a few minutes, until translucent. Remove to the plate with the lamb. Add the pine nuts to the pan and toast, stirring almost constantly, until they turn golden. Add a touch of olive oil if the pan is dry. Add back the meat and onions to the pan, along with the cooked couscous, currants, and feta. Mix well, and season with salt and pepper to taste. I like to drizzle in a little pomegranate molasses, if you have some, but it’s optional. Pour the tomato sauce into the bottom of a casserole dish that just fits your peppers. Arrange the peppers on top. Fill each pepper with the filling, pressing down slightly to insure each one is completely filled. Mound the filling up a bit at the top. Replace the tops loosely on the peppers. Cover the casserole dish and peppers with a sheet of foil. Crimp the foil along the sides of the pan so the peppers can steam. Bake for about one hour and 20 minutes, removing the foil for the last 20 minutes. The peppers should be tender and slightly browned. Serve with yogurt mint sauce on the side. To make the yogurt mint sauce, blend the ingredients together in a small food processor.