Easy Peppers and Steel Cut Oats

This is a delicious dinner dish reminiscent of stuffed peppers.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• ½ cup diced yellow onions
• ½ cup chopped green peppers
• ½ cup chopped red peppers
• ½ pound uncooked ground turkey
• 1 cup steel cut oats
• ½ cup canned diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 ½ Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 ¾ cups water
• Spices (combine in a small bowl)
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• dash red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ Tbsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp salt (optional)

Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pot, heat the oil on medium heat.  Add the garlic, and cook until golden brown.  Add the onions, and cook until they are translucent.  Add the peppers, and stir until all of them are coated in oil.  Add the ground turkey and season using half of the combined spices.  Cook the turkey all the way through, until it reaches 165⁰ F. 
2. Add the oats and the remainder of spices, and stir well.  Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and water, and stir well.  Bring to a boil, and lower heat to low.  Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes or until the oats are cooked (the liquid will begin to turn creamy and the oats will go from being crunchy to chewy).  Stir every 3 minutes to prevent the oats from sticking.
3. Sprinkle with shredded Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly chopped parsley.

Adapted from http://www.grainful.com/blog/2015/1/14/unstuffed-pepper