Healthy Stuffed Banana Peppers

You don't have to have high calorie stuffed banana peppers to make them awesome. In season now, these spicy peppers are great stuffed with shredded zucchini, fresh herbs like basil and dill, with a small amount of shredded parmesan cheese mixed in. The liquid from the zucchini provides the moisture that is typically from high fat cheeses when you get them in a restaurant.

To ensemble (amounts vary based on number of peppers made, we used 5 peppers for 10 1/2s)

-mix together 1/2 c shredded zucchini, herbs, 1/2 c tomatoes, & 1/4 c low fat cheese like Parmesan, a little freshly ground pepper and pinch of salt (2:1 ratio of tomatoes/zuc:cheese)

-slice peppers in half (we wear gloves because the oils in the peppers can be hot and burn your skin!)

-cook on grill or in oven @375 until slightly browned 

Benefits of zucchini: Contains magnesium, an element needed for bone strength, folate-aids in tissue maintainence, and Vitamin C-repairs and rebuilds tissues

Benefits of Peppers-loaded with Vitamin C (1c provides 171% of daily needs Vit C) and fiber (4g in 1 c). Hot peppers also aid in blood circulation, which promotes healing

Benefits of Tomatoes: high in Vitamin C (1c provides 38% of daily needs) and Vitamin A (30% daily needs), in addition to being high in Lycopene, an anti-inflammatory nutrient linked to cancer prevention

Nutrition Information:

For entire recipe: 

-162 calories, w/o cheese: 54 calories

-Packed with Vitamin C 165% of your daily needs

-4 grams of fiber

-7g of fat

-28% of your Daily calcium 

That's a lot better than a typical stuffed banana pepper from a restaurant-where 1 pepper could be more than double the calories in this recipe and loaded with fat! Here you get 5 peppers (which is plenty for 2 people)

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