Bob’s Stuffed Banana Peppers

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Bob’s Stuffed Banana Peppers

Ingredients

  • 8 banana peppers

     

  • 2 tablespoons butter

     

  • ½ cup chopped onion

     

  • ½ cup chopped celery

     

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

     

  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

     

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

     

  • 2 ½ teaspoons salt, divided

     

  • 1 teaspoon dried basil

     

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

     

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided

     

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

     

  • 1 large egg

     

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

     

  • 1 pound hot Italian sausage

     

  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage

     

  • 1 ½ cups bread crambs

    Directions

    1. Cut off the tops of peppers. Remove ribs and seeds; rinse peppers. Chop edible portion of the tops; set aside.

    2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

    3. Heat butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Sauté reserved chopped pepper, onion, and celery in hot butter until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and garlic. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, basil, oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

    4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

    5. Meanwhile, combine Parmesan cheese, egg, Worcestershire sauce, 1 remaining teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Mix in hot sausage, mild sausage, bread crumbs, and 1 cup tomato sauce mixture until well combined.

    6. Fill each pepper with sausage mixture using a piping bag or sausage stuffer. Place in a 3-quart casserole dish; pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.

    7. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and sausage is cooked through, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the filling should read at least 160 degrees F (72 degrees C.G