Instructions: Cut off the very top part of the peppers. Chop the pepper tops finely, omitting the stems, and save for the filling. Seed and core the peppers; set aside.

Heat a large covered frying pan and add the oil or lard. Saute the garlic, onions and reserved chopped pepper tops until tender. Add the parsley and rice and saute for a few minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the chicken stock and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to cool.

In a large bowl combine the ground meat, paprika, egg, salt and pepper to taste with the rice mixture. Mix very well.

Fill the peppers just to the top, but dont pack too firmly because the rice will expand during cooking. Place the filled peppers in a Dutch oven and add the remaining 1 cup chicken stock to the bottom of the pot. Cover and simmer very gently for 45 minutes, keeping the temperature very low or the peppers will break. Move the peppers about the pot a few times during cooking to prevent sticking.

After 45 minutes pour the Paprika Gravy over the peppers, cover and simmer for 20 minutes more.

Comments: Everyone in Eastern Europe seems to have a favorite form of this dish.

I enjoy it very much, though as a child I thought my mother was trying to kill me with it. Ours were green peppers, of course. She couldnt afford red peppers.

Dont overcook the peppers; thats the secret.

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.