Ardei Umpluti

Name: Ardei Umpluti
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Moldovan
Ingredients: 8 medium bell peppers, tops cut and seeds removed; 400g ground beef; 150g rice, rinsed; 1 onion, finely diced; 2 carrots, grated; 400g tomato passata; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 1 tsp sweet paprika; Fresh dill, chopped; Fresh parsley, chopped; Salt and black pepper; Sour cream for serving; 200ml water

Ardei umpluți (ar-DAY oom-PLOOTZ)

Stuffed Bell Peppers

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 30 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 352 kcal

Sweet bell peppers filled with a seasoned mixture of ground beef, rice, and herbs, baked in a rich tomato sauce until the peppers are tender and the filling is juicy.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 22.0g

Carbs 30.0g

Fat 16.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

baking dish mixing bowl saucepan

Presentation Guide

Vessel: oval baking dish

Garnishes: sour cream, fresh dill

Accompaniments: crusty bread, salad

Ingredients

8 medium bell peppers, tops cut and seeds removed
400g ground beef
150g rice, rinsed
1 onion, finely diced
2 carrots, grated
400g tomato passata
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tsp sweet paprika
Fresh dill, chopped
Fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper
Sour cream for serving
200ml water

Instructions

1
Sauté diced onion in oil until golden. Mix with ground beef, rice, grated carrot, dill, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2
Stuff each pepper with the filling, leaving a little room at the top for the rice to expand during cooking.
3
Place peppers upright in a baking dish, fitting them snugly so they support each other.
4
Mix tomato passata with tomato paste and water. Pour around the peppers until the sauce reaches halfway up.
5
Cover with foil and bake at 180C for one hour. Remove foil for the last fifteen minutes to let the tops brown slightly.
6
Serve hot with generous spoonfuls of sour cream over each pepper. The sauce should be thick and rich.

💡

Did You Know?

Moldovans are so passionate about ardei umpluti that there are annual village competitions to determine the best stuffed pepper maker in the region.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

baking dish
mixing bowl
saucepan

Garnishing

sour cream, fresh dill

Accompaniments

crusty bread, salad

The Story Behind Ardei Umpluti

Ardei umpluti is a beloved staple of Moldovan home cooking that arrived through Ottoman culinary influence and was embraced wholeheartedly. The dish makes excellent use of Moldova's sweet bell peppers, which grow abundantly in the warm continental climate. Every household has its own variation, with some adding mushrooms or different grains to the filling. The dish is both economical and deeply satisfying, representing the practical ingenuity of Moldovan cuisine.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch or dinner, summer and autumn 📜 Origins: Ottoman-influenced Moldovan

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!