Summertime comes with so many fresh vegetables, and one of my favorites is banana peppers. And one of my favorite ways to make them is stuffed with Italian sausage.
Italian Sausage Stuffed Banana Peppers
Banana peppers stuffed with Italian sausage, and cheese and nestled in marinara sauce
Equipment
- 1 large casserole dish
Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
- 1/2 onion rough cut
- 3 cloves garlic rough cut
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 28 ounce can San Marzano whole tomatoes
- 2 sprigs basil
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup red wine optional
Peppers and Sausage
- 10 each whole fresh banana peppers
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 onion small dice
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp Italian season
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 4 oz cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese 1/2 cup for the filling and 1 cup for the top
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup for the filling and 1 1 cup for the top
- 1 egg beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinara sauce
- In a heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat add the oil and sautee the onions until translucent
- Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes
- Add the red wine and reduce for 2 to 3 minutes
- Pour the tomatoes into a bowl and break them up
- Add the tomatoes and basil sprigs
- Reduce heat to low and simmer, occasionally stirring for at least 30 minutes
- It is best to simmer for 1 to 2 hours
- Remove the basil sprigs and puree with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor
Peppers and stuffing
- Cut the tops of the peppers, and with a long skinny knife remove the membrane and seeds
- Dice the pepper tops and add them to the diced onions
- over medium-high heat, sautee the onions and pepper tops until the onions are translucent
- Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes
- remove from heat and set aside
- In a bowl, add the sausage, cheeses, egg, and onion mixture
- Mix until well combined
- Place sausage mixture in a piping bag and pipe the mixture into the peppers making sure the peppers are completely filled
- In a large casserole dish, cover the bottom with half of the sauce
- Lay the pepper out in a single row and top with the remaining sauce
- Cover with foil and place in a 375 oven for 30 minutes
- Remove from the oven and remove the foil
- Top with the reserved parmesan and mozzarella cheese
- Place back in the oven for 15 more minutes
- Makes a nice dinner served with side salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!