You can make these tuna-stuffed peppers for under $5, and they are incredibly good tasting and good for you. The dish also is quick. Using your air fryer, you can have the stuffed peppers ready to serve in about half an hour. I line the basket of my air fryer with a double thickness of aluminum foil, meaning that cleanup also is simple. You won't need fancy ingredients. A large can of Walmart (or other) chunk-light tuna works just fine. I usually have chopped up fresh onions, carrots, and celery on hand (for salads, etc.), but a bag of frozen "mirepoix" (a fancy name for chopped onions, carrots, and celery) will work fine. Just zap the frozen stuff in the microwave to thaw/soften it. You can add mushrooms to the mix if you like or leave them out. The tuna stuffed peppers, for such a humble dish, taste amazingly good. Try them with a salad and bread for a simple, inexpensive, and good dinner. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Tuna-Stuffed Peppers -- Makes 4
2 medium sweet bell peppers, preferably red, yellow, or orange, split in half and seeded
1 cup of chopped celery, onions, carrots, and mushrooms (about 1/4 cup of each) or 1
cup of frozen "mirepoix"
12-ounce can of chunk light tuna, drained
1/4 cup of plain yogurt (low or no-fat is fine)
1 large egg
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon of dried parsley flakes
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of seasoned Panko bread crumbs, divided
Line your air fryer basket (bottom and an inch or two up the sides) with a double thickness of aluminum foil. The foil is simply to hold the peppers and lift them out of the basket when they are done. Spritz the foil with non-stick cooking spray. Position the four pepper halves in the foil so they are in a single layer. In a large bowl or measure microwave the vegetables with a tablespoon or so of water until they have softened a little (a couple of minutes). Stir in the tuna, yogurt, egg, cheese, and parsley flakes until everything is well combined. Add the 1/2 cup of the Panko bread crumbs and stir until the mixture comes together. Stuff the pepper halves with the mixture, pressing the tuna mixture into the cavities of the pepper halves and mounding the tuna, if necessary (it probably will be). Sprinkle the tops of the stuffed peppers with the remaining bread crumbs. Spritz the tops of the peppers with non-stick cooking spray (this will hold the crumbs in place and keep them from burning). Air fry the stuffed peppers at 320 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully lift the peppers from the air fryer basket using the aluminum foil as a sling.
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