Recipe: Stuffed Red Peppers with Mozzarella, Provolone, Italian Sausage and Orzo

STUFFED RED PEPPERS WITH WISCONSIN MOZZARELLA
AND PROVOLONE, ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND ORZO PASTA

4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup orzo pasta*
12 ounces fresh mild Italian sausage, either hot or mild
1 cup bottled roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
1 cup Wisconsin Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup Wisconsin Provolone cheese, shredded
6 large fresh whole red peppers, tops sliced off and seeded
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons homemade or purchased basil pesto

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring water to a boil in a large deep pot. Add salt and orzo. Boil for 9 minutes. Drain in a wire sieve and rinse with cold water. Drain again. Set aside.

Remove sausage from casings, if necessary, and break up into small pieces. Saute over medium high heat until browned and barely cooked through.

Add chopped red peppers. Remove from heat and stir in orzo and cheeses until cheese melts. Cool.

Coat a 10x10-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Stuff mixture into whole peppers and place upright in the pan.

Mix the bread crumbs and pesto. Spread evenly over pepper tops.

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the surface is lightly browned. Serve immediately.

*Orzo is a dried pasta, shaped like short grain rice.

Servings: 6
Source: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.
Photo thanks to Thomas of Delaware