Paneer Stuffed Mini Peppers w/ Green Pea Chutney

Last week, we received a delivery from Farmbox Direct full of organic vegetables, fruits and cheese.

I was most jazzed about these mini sweet peppers.

Looking for some recipes, I posted to my Instagram to see what friends recommended cooking with these beauties. My good friend Oscar had the idea of stuffing them with spiced paneer and I went with it! And without even realizing it, I kind of created a deconstructed mattar paneer (North Indian peas and cheese curry).

I made a paneer stir-fry flavored with shallot, garlic, ginger and green chilies that I stuffed into the sweet peppers for baking.

Then I blended up the easiest chutney in the world from green peas, cilantro, yogurt and lemon. It was a nice sweet complement to the spicy paneer curry.

These were delicious right out of the oven.

Paneer Stuffed Mini Peppers w/ Green Pea Chutney

Ingredients

1/2 pound mini sweet peppers, stems removed, halved

Paneer Stir-Fry
4 oz. paneer cheese, crumbled or cubed small
1 tablespoon oil
1 small shallot, minced
1 inch ginger piece, peeled and grated
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Indian green chills (can sub in Serranos or jalapeño)
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/3 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
salt to taste

Green Pea Chutney
1/3 cup blanched green peas or thawed out frozen peas
3 tablespoons yogurt
3 tablespoons cilantro leaves
squeeze of lemon
salt to taste

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a cookie sheet pan.

In a pan under medium-high heat, place 1 tablespoon of oil. When hot add in cumin seeds. When seeds start to brown after a few seconds, add in shallot. Turn the heat to medium and cook until translucent, a few minutes. Then add the garlic, green chili and ginger. Fry for 30 seconds, mixing about until fragrant. Add in the coriander powder, turmeric, garam masala and mix well. Fry for a few seconds. If pan is getting dry, can add in a few drops of water. Add in the paneer cheese and mix well. Sauté paneer for few minutes. Add salt to taste and turn off heat.

Layer the halved sweet mini peppers on a greased cookie sheet pan. With a teaspoon, fill the pepper halves with paneer stir-fry. Place in the oven to bake for 15 minutes, until peppers are soft and drying out a little on top.

Meanwhile, in a food processor or blender, add in the peas, cilantro and yogurt. Puree and transfer to a bowl. Add squeeze of lemon and salt to taste.

Line a plate with the baked peppers and drizzle the green peas chutney on top. Serve immediately.