Roasted peppers filled with a smoky rice, black bean, and corn pilaf under melted cheddar — a vegetarian main with real presence.
What you need
Ingredients
Servings
4
4
🫑 Bell Pepper ›
halved through the stem
300 g
🍚 White Rice ›
cooked
400 g
🫘 Black Beans ›
drained
150 g
🌽 Corn ›
400 g
🥫 Canned Tomatoes ›
1
🧅 Onion ›
diced
2 cloves
🧄 Garlic ›
2 tsp
🟤 Cumin ›
1 tsp
🌶️ Smoked Paprika ›
120 g
🧀 Cheddar ›
grated
1 handful
🌿 Cilantro ›
Add all to shopping list
Mise en place
Before you start
25m
Prep
40m
Cook
65m
Total
4
Serves
Equipment
Large skillet
Chef's knife
Cutting board
Prep checklist
Bell Pepper — halved through the stem
White Rice — cooked
Black Beans — drained
Onion — diced
Cheddar — grated
4 steps
Method
1
Roast the empty pepper halves at 200°C for 12 minutes so they start soft.
💡
Pre-roasting the shells is the difference between tender peppers and crunchy disappointment.
2
Sauté onion and garlic; stir in rice, beans, corn, tomatoes, cumin, and paprika, and simmer 5 minutes. Season well.
3
Fill the peppers, cap with cheddar, and bake until bubbling and bronzed, 20 minutes.
4
Scatter with cilantro and serve two halves per person.
From the chef
Notes
Taste before serving and adjust salt and acid — the last 30 seconds of seasoning matter more than any single ingredient.
Afterwards
Keep, reheat & pair
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of water.
Freezing
Freezes well up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat gently: covered in a 160°C oven for 15 minutes, or in a pan over medium-low with a splash of water or stock. The microwave works at 50% power in short bursts — full blast toughens proteins.
Make ahead
Most braises and sauces improve overnight. Sear-and-serve dishes: do every step up to the final cook, then finish fresh.
Wine pairing
Match the weight of the dish — ask the AI Chef for a specific bottle.
Beer pairing
Match intensity: lagers for delicate dishes, amber ales for roasted flavors, stouts for the rich and braised.