Ingredients

6 baby red peppers

6 baby eggplant

3 fat zucchini

about 300ml hot vegetable stock

For the stuffing

400g pudding rice

1 red pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1 tbsp chives, finely chopped

very large handful fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped

1 tsp dried mint

400g can chopped tomatoes

1 large lemon, finely grated zest and juice

1 heaped tbsp chili paste

5 tbsp olive oil

Serves - 6

Method

Make the stuffing. Swish the rice about in a bowl of cold water, drain well and add the remaining stuffing ingredients. Season if you want to, then mix well.

Cut off the stalk ends of the peppers and remove the cores. With a vegetable peeler, remove strips of eggplant skin, to give a striped effect.

Cut off the stalk ends, then dig out the flesh with an apple corer or teaspoon.

Cut a thin sliver off the bottom of each vegetable so they will stand upright.

Cut off the ends of the zucchini, then cut in half crossways and scoop out the flesh as for the eggplant.

Spoon the stuffing into the vegetables and stand them upright in a saucepan or flameproof casserole, cramming them in tightly.

Pour in enough stock to come halfway up their sides and bring to the boil.

Cover tightly with a lid and cook over a low heat for 45 mins. (If you’ve got any leftover stuffing, cook it in a separate pan of stock for about 20 mins until the rice is tender.) Leave the vegetables to settle for 10 mins.

Recipe adapted from: Good Food