Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Middle Eastern Stuffed Peppers


Middle Eastern Stuffed Peppers

When they stuff peppers, grape leaves, tomatoes, onions, eggplant or whatever in the Middle East with meat mixtures, they call that food ‘Dolma‘ (or a word similar), which literally means “stuffed”.  The mixture often includes bits of dates or raisins.

I haven’t had these particular stuffed peppers since I lived in Iran but I do cook stuffed peppers with a variety of meat mixtures.  Fatimeh, in Iran made something like this for us one time.    I remember she put raisins in her meat filling, which I thought very odd at the time.  That jacks up the carbs too high for me on my low-carb regimen, since peppers themselves are pretty carb-y.  So I tend to leave out the raisins.   If I think I can splurge a bit, I’ll snip up a few with kitchen shears and add them since they add so much flavor.   Fatimeh, our maid in Iran,  also used bulgur wheat in her filling mixture, whereas I used lower-carb hemp seeds.  Even with my changes, the peppers themselves have quite a few carbs, as you can see in the stats below.  But peppers are so good for you, I just don’t care.  I’m just going to have stuffed peppers once in awhile and that’s a given!   One of these is a serving and fills me right up. 

These are suitable once you get to Phase 2 Atkins.  Keto folks can probably fit these macros into their day with menu planning.  These are also suitable for those following Primal or Paleo programs.

INGREDIENTS: 

4 medium-large green peppers (or any other color you like)

20 oz. lean ground beef

2½ oz. onion, chopped

3/4 c. chopped parsley

1   14.5-oz (total) can diced low-sodium tomatoes

3 T. hemp seeds/hearts

1 tsp. each turmeric, dried mint and dried dill

1½ tsp. ground cinnamon

Dash each salt and pepper

VARIATIONS:  Use ground lamb instead of beef.  Use cooked lentils instead of hemp seeds (carbs will go up with lentils).  If you can are in maintenance and can afford the extra carbs, add 2 T. snipped raisins to the meat mixture before filling the peppers. 

DIRECTIONS:   Cut the tops off the peppers.  Pull out the seed cluster and discard.  Save the “lids” if you want to use them for plate presentation, otherwise, chop the flesh and save all but the stem in a baggie in the refrigerator for future pepper needs.  Parboil the peppers in a braising/soup pot of water 1″ deep for just 2-3 minutes to slightly cook them.  Carefully drain off water and stand the peppers cut-side up in the pot.  Set aside for now.

For the filling, in a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the meat and onion together.  Add half of the can of tomatoes (just solids) to the meat and stir.  Add all remaining ingredients and simmer 5 minutes to cook off any water in the tomatoes.  Preheat oven to 350º while you are simmering the meat.  After 5 minutes of cooking, spoon the meat filling equally into the peppers.  Place pepper “lids” on top if using. Pour the remaining diced tomatoes and their liquid down into the bottom of the pan around the peppers as shown below to help the peppers remain moist during cooking. 
Middle Eastern Stuffed Peppers
Pop your cook pot into a 350º oven for about 40-50 minutes.  The amount of time will depend upon the size of your peppers and the thickness of the pepper “walls”.  Bigger/thicker peppers will take more time.  If they look like they are about ready to  collapse, they’re done!  As the filling is totally cooked, you just want to cook the peppers until they are tender and not fall-apart stage, so keep an eye on them (ovens vary).

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 4 stuffed peppers, each contains approximately:

391 cals, 22g fat, 17.07g carbs (from the tomatoes and peppers), 5.9g fiber, 12.17g NET CARBS, 32.7g protein, 443 mg sodium

By: Peggy
Title: Middle Eastern Stuffed Peppers
Sourced From: buttoni.wordpress.com/2024/04/05/middle-eastern-stuffed-peppers-2/
Published Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:41:30 +0000


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between lazy keto and keto?

To understand which one is best for you, it's important to know the difference between lazy and keto. The traditional ketogenic diet is higher in fats and moderate in protein, but lower in carbs. This can help with weight loss, energy regulation, mental clarity, and other benefits. Lazy keto provides a more accessible way to lose weight and limit your carb intake.

Contrary to conventional keto, lazy keto pays less attention than traditional keto. It focuses instead on a simpler lower-carb diet with fewer restrictions but still reaping the benefits of conventional keto diets like weight loss, mental clarity, or better appetite control. With this in mind, it's often seen as an introductory stepping stone for those new to the keto lifestyle.

Keto requires hours of research to find recipes that follow dietary guidelines and calculate macro-nutrient amounts when cooking meals. This can be tedious but effective as your carb intake decreases while your fat consumption increases. As its name suggests, however, lazy keto embodies a less stringent approach, dispensing with much of this rigour in exchange for simple, adapted low-carb eating habits that don't require careful calculations at every mealtime.

So, traditional ketogenic diets have a lot of benefits but are very intensive. But lazy keto can be an alternative. This is for people who don't want to make a commitment to a diet plan and still get consistent results.


Can I consume alcohol while on the keto diet?

A sensible approach to the keto diet is to question what you can or cannot do while limiting carbohydrates. It is important to be mindful when you consume alcoholic drinks.

The answer is - it depends. Many alcoholic drinks are not suitable for keto, and some may be more keto-friendly than others. It is dependent on factors like sugar levels, carbohydrate content, and even type of alcohol that a drink's consumption will have an effect on how much you are able to consume.

This is why it's important to be careful when choosing alcoholic beverages. Even if they don't contain visible carbs it doesn't mean they are keto-friendly. You might even experience an increase in blood sugar. It is important to consider other factors like calories before making a purchase.

Moderation is key to maximizing the positive effects of alcohol while on a low carb diet. This will help you avoid potential drawbacks that could hinder your weight loss or fitness goals.

Informed decisions lead to better decisions. You should always be aware of all details when choosing a low-carb beverage.


Can I eat a dairy-free keto diet?

Absolutely! Though dairy products are a traditional component of a keto diet, if you follow these tips, you can enjoy many delicious dairy-free options while keeping the ketogenic feel. Keto diet plans aim to reduce carb intake and increase healthy fats. That said, there are many plant-based alternatives to select from to remain within your set guidelines.

First, you need to identify the fats and proteins that are most beneficial for you. Avocado oil, coconut oil, tahini and nut butter all make great substitutes for butter. You can also use meat substitutes like tempeh and tofu as a source of protein. Nuts, seeds and nuts provide great crunchy textures.

When it comes to sweets creamy coconut milk, plant-based yogurts and heavy cream can be substituted for. Vegan cheeses made with cashews and macadamia nuts can be substituted for dairy cheese by cheese lovers.

Finally, don't forget other seasoning options when making your dishes stand out! Regardless of what ingredients are excluded, herbs, spices and vinegar can be used to enhance the unique taste of foods. As long as you remember the principles of the ketogenic diet while simultaneously recognizing tasty solutions around those food restrictions, you'll be able to maintain a successful dairy-free keto plan!


Statistics

  • Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy, but on a strict ketogenic diet, less than 5% of energy intake is from carbohydrates (learn more in our beginner's guide for the ketogenic diet). (eatingwell.com)
  • The ratio is often 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs. (healthline.com)
  • Proteins should account for around 10–30% of energy needs, while carbs are usually restricted to 5%. (healthline.com)
  • But, a 1-ounce slice of cheese delivers about 30% of the Daily Value for saturated fat, so if you're worried about heart disease, consider portion size when eating cheese. (eatingwell.com)
  • It typically contains 70% fat, 20% protein, and only 10% carbs (9Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

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How To

Calculating Your Macros on a Ketogenic Diet

The best approach to keto living will help you achieve and maximize your results. Calculating your macros with a ketogenic diet is both easy and challenging at the same time.

Understanding macro nutrition is key when understanding what Macros on a Keto Diet means. Further explanation is provided by this term. It refers to three vital nutrients - carbohydrates proteins and fats – that are required for our bodies to function correctly and thrive. Our bodies gain from the functions of each nutrient by monitoring their intake.

Planning and monitoring your progress is key to successful meal prep with macros. With careful consideration for daily meals and snacks, as well as special occasions such as holiday gatherings or food challenges during travel, you can be certain you're making the correct deductions when figuring out what's best for you and your health journey.

When considering all aspects related to macro tracking, patience is essential! Flexibility is key to improving your macro tracking skills. It also allows you the freedom to learn about your body's specific needs and make adjustments as needed. This will allow you to shine and understand macronutrition in new ways.



Resources:


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