Recipe: Authentic Ukrainian Stuffed Green or Red Peppers

Authentic Ukrainian Stuffed Green or Red Peppers

8 medium sized fresh sweet, green peppers
1/2 lb. freshly ground beef or veal
1/2 lb. freshly ground pork
1 raw large, fresh egg
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice (washed).
9 to 10 peeled, garden fresh tomatoes
1/3 cup of chopped, fresh yellow onion
1 medium fresh sweet carrot, finely shredded,
2 Tablespoons sweet paprika.
1 teaspoon plain or sea salt.
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
1 1/2 Tablespoons granulated sugar (do not omit).
2 whole Bay leaves.
1 cup water, only if needed by the recipe, (see below).

Cut about 1 inch off the top of each pepper. Discard seeds and membranes.

Finely chop the pepper tops (you should have about 1/4 to 1/3 cup).

In a mixing bowl, place the ground meat, raw egg, washed rice, carrot, salt and paprika.

Mix well with a heavy spoon.

Stuff the cleaned peppers, using all the prepared meat mixture.

Stand the stuffed peppers up right in the cooking pot.

Add the crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, sugar, onions, ground pepper and chopped tops of peppers over the peppers.

Cover and slowly cook for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

If the tomato sauce thickens up too much, add additional water as required.

To serve, spoon the delicious sauce from the pot, over the stuffed peppers.

Serve with fresh baked bread and a glass of White Wine.

Makes 4 servings