Oven-Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers
Minced Pork and Mozzarella

A deliciously cozy weeknight meal featuring sweet bell peppers packed with seasoned minced pork, sweet corn, and aromatic herbs, finished with a golden-brown melted mozzarella crust.

Ingredients

• 40 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 20 pieces sweet corn
• 3 g salt
• 3 g black pepper
• 2 g thyme
• 100 g mozzarella cheese
• 30 g carrot
• 20 g onion
• 5 g garlic
• 200 g minced pork

Instructions

1. 1Mince thyme and garlic

   

   Using a kitchen knife, finely mince the fresh thyme and garlic on a wooden cutting board to release their aromatic flavors.

   Tip: Keep your fingers tucked and use a rocking motion with the knife for a clean, even mince.
2. 2Chop the red onion

   

   Take the red onion and finely chop it into small pieces on the wooden cutting board.

   Tip: Chop the onion uniformly so it softens evenly when cooked.
3. 3Dice the carrot

   

   Carefully dice the carrot into small cubes on the wooden cutting board to prepare it for sautéing.

   Tip: Cut the carrot into small, uniform cubes to match the onion size.
4. 4Sauté the vegetables

   

   Pour extra virgin olive oil into a hot pan, then add the chopped onion, carrot, garlic, and thyme, sautéing them until fragrant.

   Tip: Sauté over medium heat to prevent the garlic and herbs from burning.
5. 5Add sweet corn to meat

   

   Pour canned sweet corn from the tin into a large mixing bowl containing the raw minced meat.

   Tip: Drain excess liquid from the canned corn before adding it to the meat mixture.
6. 6Season the mixture

   

   Add salt to the mixing bowl containing the raw minced meat, sweet corn, and sautéed vegetables.

   Tip: Evenly distribute the salt across the ingredients before kneading.
7. 7Season the Meat Mixture

   

   Grind fresh black pepper directly into the stainless steel mixing bowl containing the minced pork and sweet corn.

   Tip: Freshly ground black pepper provides a much stronger aroma than pre-ground pepper.
8. 8Mix and Knead by Hand

   

   Using gloved hands, thoroughly mix and knead the raw minced pork, sautéed vegetables, and sweet corn together for about two minutes to ensure the seasonings are well distributed.

   Tip: Kneading the meat mixture helps bind the ingredients together so they stay compact inside the peppers.
9. 9Stuff the Bell Peppers

   

   Take portions of the prepared raw meat mixture and firmly stuff them into the hollowed-out cavities of the halved bell peppers.

   Tip: Pack the filling firmly into the peppers so it does not shrink or fall out during baking.
10. 10Arrange and Drizzle with Oil

    

    Place the stuffed bell peppers onto a foil-lined baking sheet and lightly drizzle olive oil over the top of the filling.

    Tip: A light drizzle of oil keeps the meat moist and helps brown the top during the baking process.
11. 11Bake in the Oven

    

    Carefully slide the baking sheet loaded with stuffed bell peppers into the oven preheated to 170 degrees Celsius for 40 minutes.

    Tip: Ensure the oven is fully preheated to the correct temperature before placing the tray inside.
12. 12Remove After First Bake

    

    Using oven mitts, carefully pull the baking sheet out of the oven after the initial 40-minute baking time is complete.

    Tip: Always wear thick oven mitts when handling hot baking sheets straight from the oven.
13. 13Add mozzarella cheese

    

    Take the partially baked stuffed bell peppers out of the oven and sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of each pepper.

    Tip: Make sure the cheese covers the meat filling so it melts into a gooey, golden crust during the final bake.
14. 14Bake until golden brown

    

    Place the baking sheet with the cheese-topped stuffed peppers back into the oven. Bake at 200 degrees Celsius for about 10 minutes until the cheese is completely melted, bubbling, and golden brown.

    Tip: Keep a close eye on the oven during the final minutes to prevent the cheese from burning.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions