Frugal Feasts: Stuffed peppers

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Frugal Feasts: Tofu Stuffed Peppers

This is one of our favorite meals to eat when green or red peppers are on sale. There are many variations on stuffed peppers. I usually make them with tofu or crumbled veggie burgers as a hearty vegetarian meal. They are also great with cooked chicken or ground beef.  Steam the peppers in the microwave to soften and lesson cooking time in the oven. Serve with a roll or crescent and fruit for dessert.

Stuffed Red Peppers

4 red or green peppers
1 block firm or extra firm tofu, patted dry with towel and cubed
2.5 cups cooked mexican rice (1 pouch Knorr Fiesta Sides Mexican Rice works well)
1 cup shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese for inside of peppers
¼ cup shredded cheese for top of peppers
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and spices
Garlic powder to taste
Pepper to taste

 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cut off top of peppers and core. Place peppers standing up in microwaveable glass pan. Add 1/3 cup water to bottom of pan. Microwave on high approximately 3-4 minutes until softened (length of time depends on size of peppers). Do not overcook or peppers will be too mush to stuff.  In medium mixing bowl, combine the cubed tofu, cooked rice, 1 cup shredded cheese, diced tomatoes including juice in can, garlic and pepper.  Remove steamed peppers from microwave, empty any water still in them and place upright in baking dish. Fill with tofu and rice mixture. If there is extra mixture (because the peppers are smaller), place it in the pan around the peppers.  Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 20 minutes. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of peppers and bake for additional 5 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

 
Cost breakdown: 

Trader Joe’s Tofu: $1.49
Green Peppers: $3.00 (.75 each at Walmart everyday)
Knorr Fiesta Sides Mexican Rice Pouch: $0.25 with sale and coupon
Shredded Cheese: $0.50 with sale and coupons
Can of diced tomatoes: $0.25 with sale and coupon
Garlic powder and pepper: $.05

Total cost for dish: $5.54
Cost per serving: $1.38

**In my house we always have at least 1 stuffed pepper left over to share for lunch the next day since most of us don’t eat an entire stuffed pepper at one meal (as much as I might like to eat a whole one!). The total cost for the dinner meal ends up being closer to $4.16 ($1.04 per person) since we only use 3 stuffed peppers for dinner.