# Dinner Tonight: Vegetarian Stuffed Red Peppers With Squash, Black Beans and Rice

**By Neal Barnard, MD, FACC** · 2015-12-14

![stuffed-red-peppers](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0319/0960/9603/files/stuffed-red-peppers-300x200.jpg)Looking for a holiday treat to share with family and friends? Try an entrée packed with vitamin C, which helps support a strong immune system and adds vibrant color. These vegetarian stuffed red peppers supply the healthy basics: vegetables, ancient grains, and legumes, and are topped with just a handful of pepitas – iron-rich pumpkin seeds. Nutrition fact: one medium red pepper contains just 37 calories and more than 150% of the daily recommended intake for vitamin C. If you have leftover rice and cooked black beans on hand, this recipe can be made in just a few minutes. Or you can slice up the red peppers, add some shredded lettuce, and make a salad out of it.  **Vegetarian Stuffed Red Peppers With Squash, Black Beans and Rice** 1/2 cup cooked brown rice 1 cup cooked black beans 2 Mexican gray squash or zucchini, diced 6 green onions, sliced 2 teaspoons pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar Juice of 1 lime 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 red bell peppers, cut in half, cored, and seeded Salsa (optional) Combine the rice, beans, squash, green onions, pepitas, garlic, oregano, vinegar, lime, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Fill the pepper halves with the squash, rice, and bean mixture. Top with salsa, if using, and serve. Per serving: 187 calories, 16 g protein, 54 g carbohydrate, 13 g sugar, 3 g total fat, 14% calories from fat, 16 g fiber, 317 mg sodium. _Photo from [here](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dolmansaxlil/6392565979/in/photolist-aJTz9P-8NNC4e-qXewsX-4g3icP-8NRJSS-dwbmqq-34To9C-bc6g8r-4e7Zv4-7PnMa2-4e7Zc8-e5JGTs-2wBs8-4ebY3d-4ebY1U-4Vp1p7-7PnM8M-4e7Z4Z-85mA4w-24rfr7-6s9yKL-mHdfvY-5TQgHm-euR1Xv-nVjR9T-oN3Ht-aFatEg-3KsUV4-88NoVN-6S7H2N-oCw2qu-6Vu5TB-caKyQw-4e7Zk2-9b7Knw-3rSNC3-ryq1a-9TVAkE-vfeQE-bid1ot-67bmZb-cJjRGq-dDxCzo-4e7Zn6-4ebYcw-4e7ZpX-4e7Zs4-k1xWj-34tGVZ-4sHCiQ), with thanks._

**Tags:** ancient grains, Category_Healthy Recipes, peppers, vitamin c

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> Source: [Village Green Apothecary](https://myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/dinner-tonight-vegetarian-stuffed-red-peppers-with-squash-black-beans-and-rice)