Albanian Stuffed Peppers with Rice and Vegetables (Speca të Mbushur)

Speca të Mbushur is a traditional Albanian dish that features bell peppers stuffed with a flavorful mixture of rice and vegetables. This dish is popular in Arbëreshë cuisine, which is the traditional cuisine of the Arbëreshë people, an Albanian ethnic group that settled in Italy.

Albanian Stuffed Peppers with Rice and Vegetables (Speca të Mbushur)

Ingredients

  • 4 large bell peppers
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, chopped onion, diced tomatoes, diced zucchini, grated carrot, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  4. Stuff the bell peppers with the rice and vegetable mixture.
  5. Place the stuffed peppers in a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and cover with foil.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the peppers are tender.
  7. Serve hot and enjoy!

Cooking & Preparation

Preparation time:
20 minutes
Cooking time:
40 minutes
Total time:
1 hour
Cooking method
Stovetop

Nutritional facts per 1 serving

Calories
200 per serving
Carbohydrates
35g
Protein
5g
Fat
3g

Supplies

Baking dish Foil

Tools

Knife Cutting board Bowl

Serving suggestions

Serve the stuffed peppers with a side of crusty bread and a fresh green salad.

Tips & tricks

For a variation, you can add crumbled feta cheese to the rice and vegetable mixture for extra flavor.

Cost

$10