To celebrate Halloween, try these tasty and festive Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Peppers. The recipe calls for carving orange bell peppers into the shape of tiny Jack-o’-lanterns, then stuffing them with a flavourful concoction of rice, veggies, and spiced ground pork or a vegetarian substitute. The carved peppers give your table a whimsical touch while emulating the classic Halloween jack-o’-lanterns.

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Ingredients:

6 orange bell peppers (the “jack-o’-lanterns”)

1 lb ground beef (or a vegetarian alternative like black beans or crumbled tofu)

1 cup of white or brown cooked rice

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 fresh or canned cup of diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

Instructions:

Prepare the Peppers:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Cut off the tops of the orange bell peppers (save the tops for decoration) and remove the seeds and membranes from the inside.

Using a small paring knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces on the front of each pepper (just like you would on a pumpkin). Set aside.

Prepare the Filling:

In a skillet over medium heat, preheat a small amount of olive oil. Simmer the onion in it for three to four minutes.
Garlic powder is added, and cooked for one more minute.

Add the ground beef (or your vegetarian alternative) and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.

Stir in the diced tomatoes, cooked rice, cumin, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook everything until thoroughly cooked and combined.

Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the shredded cheese, saving a little for topping.

Stuff the Peppers:

Fill each carved pepper with the meat and rice mixture, packing it in gently but firmly.

Place the stuffed peppers in a baking dish. If you like, you can top each pepper with some extra shredded cheese.

Place the tops of the peppers (the lids) back on as decoration.

Bake:

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape.

Serve:

Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm! These Jack-O’-Lantern Peppers are perfect for a Halloween party or family dinner.

Significance for Halloween:

In addition to being a tasty and filling dish, the Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Peppers are a part of one of Halloween’s most recognizable customs: the carving of jack-o’-lanterns. Irish folklore, specifically the tale of “Stingy Jack,” a man who deceived the Devil and was condemned to roam the Earth with only a hollowed-out turnip burned by coal for illumination, is the origin of the jack-o’-lantern tradition. The custom was brought to America by Irish immigrants, who discovered that pumpkins made better carving tools than turnips, leading to the creation of the classic jack-o’-lanterns that are still associated with Halloween.

Making faces out of bell peppers is a creative approach to carry on this eerie custom in a more manageable and tasty way. The bell peppers’ orange hue is reminiscent of pumpkins, and the carved faces give your Halloween supper a fun and festive touch. This recipe is a visual delight and a fulfilling dinner for the season since it combines the best parts of Halloween with something hearty and warm.