Speca të Mbushur (Albanian Stuffed Peppers)
In short: Sweet peppers filled with beef, rice, onion and fresh herbs, then baked in a light tomato broth until tender, a late-summer family favorite. It takes about 1 h 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 35 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 500 kcal
When peppers are cheap and plentiful in late summer, Albanian kitchens fill them with a mix of ground beef, rice, onion and fresh herbs. The peppers bake upright in a pan with a little tomato broth, so the rice swells inside and the juices collect at the bottom. People eat them hot for lunch with bread, and just as often cold the next day. Choose peppers that sit upright and have thick walls.
Instructions
- Cut the tops off the peppers and keep them as lids. Scoop out the seeds and white ribs, then rinse the peppers.
- Heat the sunflower oil in a pan and cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft. Stir in the tomato paste and paprika for 1 minute, then let the mixture cool slightly.
- In a bowl, mix the onion with the beef, rice, parsley, mint, salt and pepper until evenly blended.
- Fill each pepper about three-quarters full, leaving room for the rice to swell. Put the lids back on.
- Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Stand the peppers close together in a deep baking dish so they support each other.
- Mix the chopped tomatoes, hot water, olive oil and salt, and pour the mixture around the peppers. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
- Bake for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, until the peppers are soft, the rice is tender and the filling reaches 71°C (160°F).
- Let the peppers sit for 10 minutes, then serve with spoonfuls of the tomato juices.
Tips
- If a pepper will not stand up, trim a thin slice from its base, taking care not to cut a hole.
- For a meatless version, replace the beef with 200 g (1 cup) cooked lentils and add an extra 50 g (1/4 cup) of rice.
Questions and answers
Can I prepare stuffed peppers in advance?
Yes. Fill the peppers up to 1 day ahead, cover and chill them, then add the sauce and bake just before serving. They also reheat well the next day.
Can stuffed peppers be frozen?
Freeze baked peppers with some of the sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge and warm gently in a covered dish.
What do you serve with stuffed peppers?
Fresh bread and a tomato salad are the usual partners. Some families add a side of fried potatoes.
How long does it take to make Speca të Mbushur (Albanian Stuffed Peppers)?
About 1 h 50 min in total: 35 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Speca të Mbushur (Albanian Stuffed Peppers)?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 23 g of protein, 43 g of carbohydrates and 26 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 23 g |
| Carbohydrates | 43 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 16 g |
| Sodium | 1050 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
