Stuffed Green Peppers with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• Chicken Filling, recipe follows
• 2 cups cooked long grain rice
• Tomato Sauce, heated, recipe follows
• 6 green bell peppers
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Minced parsley, for garnish

Directions

Prepare the Chicken Filling. When cool, stir in cooked rice. Reserve. Prepare the Tomato Sauce. Set aside and keep warm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Wash the peppers under cold water. Wipe dry. Cut the top 1-inch of the peppers off, keeping the stem intact. Reserve. Remove the core and seeds. Brush inside and outside with olive oil. Season inside with salt and pepper.

Divide the filling into 6 portions and fill each pepper to the top. Place the lids back on top. In a roasting pan, place the stuffed peppers and the hot Tomato Sauce. Bake in the oven for about 1 hour or until done. Serve in heated plates garnished with minced parsley.

Chicken Filling:

• 2 chicken legs, skinned and deboned
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup (about 1/4 pound) diced onion
• 1/2 pound mushrooms, chopped fine
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground white pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Coarsely grind the chicken and transfer to a large bowl. Reserve.

In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over moderate heat. Saute the onion until translucent. Add mushrooms and continue to cook until all the liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally. Cool.

Stir the onion and mushroom mixture into the ground chicken. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well. To test for taste, saute a small amount in a little oil and adjust seasoning.

Reserve as stuffing for Green Peppers with Tomato Sauce.

Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Adventures in the Kitchen" Random House, 1991

Yield: about 4 cups

Wolfgang's Favorite Tomato Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 pounds Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced
• 1 cup homemade Chicken Stock, recipe follows or store-bought, heated
• 3 ounces butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup basil, chiffonade
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Over medium heat, saute the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and simmer for 20 minutes or until sauce thickens.

Strain into a clean saucepan. Whisk in butter, piece by piece. Add basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Use as needed.

Yield: Makes 2 1/2 cups

Chicken Stock:

• 5 to 6 pounds chicken bones, including necks and feet, coarsely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 medium onion, peeled, trimmed, and quartered
• 1 small celery stalk, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 small leek, cleaned, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 3 sprigs fresh parsley with stems
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon whole white peppercorns

Place the chicken bones in a 6 or 7-quart pot, pour cold water over to cover, and bring to a rolling boil. Skim off the foam and fat that collects on the top.

Add the remaining ingredients, lower the heat to a simmer, and simmer uncovered for 2 to 3 hours, skimming as necessary. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl and cool. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days, discarding the hardened layer of fat before using or freezing.

Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Pizza, Pasta & More!" Random House, 2000

Yield: Makes about 2 quarts