Rice and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

• 12 bell peppers, various colors
• 2 lbs (1 kg) onions, stemmed and peeled
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) pine nuts
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) currants
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) olive oil
• 1 cup (250 mL) short-grain rice
• 1 cup (250 mL) diced peeled tomatoes, with juices or canned tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) boiling water
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fresh mint (or 1 tbsp 15 mL dried)
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fresh dill (or 1 tbsp 15 mL dried)
• 2 cups (500 mL) cooked black beans or 1 can (19 oz 540 mL) black beans, rinsed and drained
• Large roasting pan or baking dish

1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C)
2. Slice a 1/2-inch (1 cm) round (including the stem, if any) from the top of each pepper.
3. Set these aside.
4. (Theyll serve later as lids for the stuffed peppers.)
5. Trim the cavity of the peppers, discarding seed pod and seeds, without puncturing the walls or bottom of the peppers.
6. Set aside.
7. In a bowl, shred the onions through the graters largest holes (youll have about 3 cups 750 mL grated onions and juices).
8. Transfer to a large nonstick frying pan.
9. Add cinnamon, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, over high heat for 5 minutes or until most of the juices have evaporated.
10. Add pine nuts, currants and olive oil; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until the onions start to catch on bottom of pan.
11. Immediately add rice; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the rice is thoroughly coated with oil.
12. Add tomatoes and 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the boiling water; cook, stirring, for about 4 minutes or until the tomatoes have broken down and the water is absorbed.
13. Remove from heat.
14. Stir in mint, dill and black beans until well mixed.
15. Stuff a scant 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the rice-bean stuffing into each pepper.
16. (It should be about twothirds full to allow for expansion.)
17. Place stuffed peppers into roasting pan, fitting the peppers snugly in a single layer.
18. Place the reserved tops on the peppers to act as lids.
19. Add 1 cup (250 mL) boiling water around the peppers.
20. Cover and bake for 40 minutes, undisturbed.
21. Uncover and bake for 30 to 40 minutes more to char the peppers and reduce the liquid.
22. Remove from oven, and cover the peppers.
23. Let them cool down completely (about 1 1/2 hours) before serving.

bell peppers, onions, ground cinnamon, salt, freshly ground black pepper, nuts, currants, olive oil, shortgrain rice, tomatoes, boiling water, fresh mint, fresh dill, black beans, roasting pan

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/rice-and-black-bean-stuffed-peppers (may not work)