World Flavors Cookbook

Speca të Mbushura (Albanian Stuffed Peppers)

Name: Speca të Mbushura (Albanian Stuffed Peppers)
Cook time: 60 min
Cuisine: Albania
Ingredients: 6 large bell peppers, tops removed and seeded; 300g ground beef or lamb; 150g rice; 1 onion, finely diced; 2 tomatoes, grated; 2 tbsp tomato paste; Fresh parsley, mint, salt, pepper; Olive oil

Sweet bell peppers stuffed with a savory mixture of rice, ground meat, herbs, and tomato — a beloved Albanian home-cooking classic found across the Balkans.

Cuisine: Albania

Ingredients

6 large bell peppers, tops removed and seeded
300g ground beef or lamb
150g rice
1 onion, finely diced
2 tomatoes, grated
2 tbsp tomato paste
Fresh parsley, mint, salt, pepper
Olive oil

Instructions

1. Sauté onion in olive oil. Add meat and brown. Stir in rice, herbs, and tomato. 2. Stuff the mixture into hollowed peppers. 3. Stand peppers upright in a deep pot or baking dish. 4. Pour tomato sauce and a little water around them. 5. Bake at 180°C for 50–60 minutes until peppers are tender and filling is cooked. 6. Serve with yogurt on the side.