mini spinach + mushroom stuffed peppers
March 5, 2012 I’ve been on a pepper kick lately. This is mostly due to the fact that they’ve been on sale. I can’t pass up a sale on organic peppers. Especially when they’re the mini variety.
So cute.
So sweet.
So crunchy.
So….stuffable?
Yes!
Do you know what else I can’t pass up?
A 50% off sale on this goat mozzarella. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I like goat cheese but have never tried a mozzarella or cheddar variety.
It was very soft but not quite as soft as fresh mozzarella. The flavor was much more mild than typical crumbly goat cheese.
It’s now my new favorite cheese. I will be stocking up.
The decision making process about what to put in the peppers took far too long. Spinach + cheese? Thyme? Topped with basil? Would the flavors compete? What about mushrooms? Would it be too wet? Would they work with the sweet pepper flavor? This is what goes on in my head at the grocery store and why I would benefit from recipe planning.
Despite all of my concerns they came together.
Addicting to say the least.
Mini Spinach + Mushroom Stuffed Peppers
- 1 pint mini sweet peppers
- 1.5c portabella or button mushrooms, finely chopped
- 2c spinach, finely chopped
- 3/4c goat milk mozzarella, shredded
- 2t garlic, minced
- 1T fresh thyme, chopped
- 1/2T safflower oil
- 1/4t salt
- pepper
- basil to top, chiffonade
- Wash peppers, slice lengthwise, and de-seed.
- Set your oven to broil.
- Place a sauté pan over medium heat with the oil.
- Place the peppers cut side up on a baking sheet, and broil for 2-4min until slightly softened. Remove from the oven.
- Add the mushrooms, spinach, garlic, salt, and pepper to the pan and sauté for 3min, stirring frequently.
- Add the fresh thyme in for the last 1-2min and stir. The spinach should be just wilted and the mushrooms starting to soften. Take off the heat.
- In a bowl, toss the mushroom mixture with the shredded cheese and then press the stuffing into each pepper, until just coming out over the tops.
- Broil 2-4min, until bubbly and lightly browned.
- Top with basil, a few grinds of pepper, and serve immediately.
notes: Cow’s milk mozzarella or sharp cheddar cheese would work great in place of goat’s milk mozzarella. If you don’t like mushrooms double the spinach instead [I did this for Chris].
Don’t let their messy look deceive you. These little peppers are packed with flavor.
For dinner, I served them over buttered + salted quinoa topped with avocado.
We ate the entire batch.
We’ve been in a bit of a dinner rut over here, so this was a nice change of pace. Appetizer or appetizer turned dinner. Take your pick. Either way you won’t be sorry.
Ashley
goat cheese, mushrooms, peppers, spinach in appetizers + snacks, gluten free, grain free, side dish 
Reader Comments (37)
I’ve been on a pepper kick lately, too. Big time. I love peppers so much that I learned to can! I started canning hot pepper jelly and making my own. I am pepper obsessed and this looks soooo good!
How cute are these mini peppers?! I love stuffed peppers and these are just adorable! ;)
I can see how these would be insanely addictive. The mini peppers are just too cute! And I can relate to crazy happenings in my head at the grocery store. Sometimes I just stand in front of an item for an extended period of time, the wheels turning... I'm sure it looks absolutely ridiculous.
Yum!!! That looks soooo delicious!!!!
I love these mini peppers and I snap them up anytime they're on sale. I would have never thought to stuff them, but they look like the perfect little bite size morsels. Not sure that I've ever seen goat mozzarella...but since it combines my two favorite cheeses I'll have to seek it out.
I just bought two bags of these peppers at Costco yesterday and have already eaten half of one bag. I absolutely love them! These look delicious. I love fun finger foods to get me out of a dinner rut too!
Yum. Stephen will love this recipe!!!
Yum! Those look great. I'm obsessed with those peppers - we go through a bag a week, at least.
Love this! Looks great :)
I'm the exact same way.. I take FORever at the grocery store!
Too cute! I'm a sucker for finger food like this.
So cute!
Would this recipe work with regular peppers too? Would I have to double the ingredients for the stuffing?
I love your blog by the way!
Bited sized bliss!
If you come across a Goat Gouda, you must try it!
These are adorable! I actually passed up the on sale bag of mini peppers at the store this weekend because I thought they'd be too much of a pain to stuff being so small. Kicking myself now!
i saw these at the store and considered buying some but didn't. i think i will next time though, these look delicious!
Goat cheddar is awesome- but I've never even seen goat mozzarella! I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. Goat cheese is probably my favorite of all the cheeses- and that is saying a lot.
Well, maybe 2nd favorite after Havarti...
very very cute! I've seen bags of these before but never knew what could be done with them that you cant do with whole peppers. Well here's the answer!
these are SO adorable...i love mini peppers but haven't seen them on sale. yet. now i'll be looking ;)
Oh they are super delicious and make a great salad topping too!
They weren't too bad at all!
Will do!
I think the mixture would be a bit heavy/intense to stuff a large pepper with. It would be great to stuff baby portobellas with though.
I must try this!
I love this idea! So easy to just pop right into your mouth!
So cute! I've never had goat mozzarella but I think I would love it too. Great recipe!
I love the cute little peppers! We're always looking for ways to have appetizers as dinner. Yum!
Oh heavens I LOVE goat cheese. I can't even stand how cute and delicious these little peppers look. I'm officially on the lookout for goat mozzarella.
Yet one more reason I wished the hubs ate pickles... sigh
:) I adore goat cheese though, so I may whip these up just for me.
I've never tried goat mozzarella cheese before, but I love cheese so I'm pretty sure I would love this recipe... once I get me some of that cheese! Thank you :)
pepper cuties.
I love those little peppers! I usually end up eating most of them straight out of the bag! This recipe looks wonderful. Spinach and mozzarella cheese is always a great combination. I 'll have to try it soon if I can keep myself from eating all the peppers before I cook them!
[...] Ashley shares another version of stuffed peppers. (She had me at “goat cheese.”) [...]
Oh my, YES!! Reminds me of Aunt Becky's sauce. Coconut could help with "snowballs"
This wasn't sticky like Aunt Becky's but it sure was silky smooth + coconutty. You would love.
It's on sale at our whole foods here from $7.99 to $3.99!!! Be on the lookout!