Stuffed peppers(Ardei Umpluti) are a favorite dish in many parts of the world. They are easy to make and delicious. I like to use any ground meat available, but pork is my favorite. You can use a mixture of beef and pork or just beef. Rice is also added to the mixture. Perfect for lunch or for a great dinner.
In a large bowl, mix the ground meat, rice, onion, dill, parsley, salt and pepper.
Wash the peppers and cut a hole around the stem removing the seeds and the core.
Fill up the peppers with the ground meat mixture and put them in a baking dish.
Mix the rest of the water, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and spices and pour it over the peppers.
Cover the baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil and put the pan in the oven to simmer.
After an hour, take the pan out of the oven and flip the peppers on their other side. Place the pan back in the oven but without a cover.
Let the peppers bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown on top and the sauce has reduced slightly. Taste for salt and pepper again.
The peppers are ready when the fork goes easily through the pepper's skin and when the meat and rice are cooked inside.
Serve them hot with sour cream on top.
Notes
How To Make Romanian Stuffed Peppers In Instant Pot:
Follow the steps on filling up the peppers.
Place them in the Instant Pot.
Mix together: 1 cup of water with ¼ cup of tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, ½ teaspoon marjoram or thyme.
Pour this sauce over the peppers.
Close the lid, turn release vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cooking for 20 minutes on High.
The pot will take about 10-15 minutes for the pressure to build up, which is not included in the 20 minutes cooking.
After peppers are cooked, turn the valve to Quick Release and release the pressure.(it might take about 2 minutes)
Preparation: 15 minutesCooking time: 37 minutes( 15 minutes for the pressure to build up+ 20 minutes Cooking+ 2 minutes Quick Release)