Ingredients

1/4 C. olive oil
2 C. chopped onions
1 C. uncooked rice
1/4 C. pine nuts (pignoli)
2 1/4 C. water
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
6 to 8 green bell peppers, tops removed, seeded, but kept whole
1 C. water
lemon wedges for garnish

Cooking Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat and sauté the onions, stirring frequently, until light brown. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Add the pine nuts and cook an additional minute (no longer). Add the water, tomato paste, salt, pepper, allspice, and cinnamon, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add the mint and lemon juice and toss gently with a fork to mix and fluff the rice. Stuff the peppers with the rice mixture and place them in a large casserole. Add 1 C. water to the bottom of the baking dish and bake covered in a preheated 350° oven for 45 minutes, until the peppers are tender. Allow to cool and remove the remaining water from the bottom of the baking dish. Chill the peppers in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with lemon wedges. Serves 6 to 8.

My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalms 42:3)