Sausage and Rice Stuffed Peppers

Sausage and Rice Stuffed Peppers
original recipe by Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 teaspoons EVOO
• 1/2 pound apple chicken sausage, casings removed
• 1 zucchini, diced small
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced small
• 2 garlic clove, minced
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1/4 cup (0.5 oz) grated Parmesan, grated (1/4 cup)
• 4 cups COOKED long-grain white rice
• 1/2 cup fresh panko breadcrumbs
• 4 large bell peppers (any color), halved lengthwise, seeds and ribs removed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high.  Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat
3. with a wooden spoon, until browned for 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to a medium bowl. 
4. Add 1 teaspoon oil to skillet along with zucchini, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
5. Add zucchini mixture to bowl with sausage, along with Parmesan, rice, and 1 teaspoon oil; stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. 
6. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon oil and season with salt and pepper. 
7. Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange bell peppers, cut side up, on sheet. 
8. Divide rice mixture among peppers and top with breadcrumbs. Bake until breadcrumbs are browned and peppers are tender, about 30 minutes.  Serve warm.