Name: Paneer-Stuffed Peppers
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 2 (6-oz.) packages paneer; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped; ½ jalapeño, seeds removed, finely chopped; 1 (1") piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped; 1 tsp. cumin seeds; ½ tsp. mustard seeds; 2 tsp. ground coriander; ½ tsp. cayenne pepper; ½ tsp. ground turmeric; 1 (15-oz.) can crushed tomatoes; 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; Nonstick vegetable oil spray; 4 red or yellow bell peppers, halved through stem end, ribs and seeds removed; Chopped cilantro (for serving)

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

Spiced tomato sauce with bits of creamy paneer fills delicious stuffed peppers here, but it can also be simply served with flatbread, over quinoa, or in a quesadilla. Searing the paneer adds a slight smokiness to the sauce. This creamy cheese is ideal because it does not melt completely—crumbling it ensure a satisfying texture. Sach is my go-to brand. The flavorful tomato sauce is spiced with jalapeño, fresh ginger, ground coriander, and cumin and mustard seeds.

This recipe uses the same sauce as the Toasted Tomato-Paneer Sandwiches, so feel free to double it to make both recipes.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

17 Paneer Recipes for Meatless Mains and Cheesy Snacks
Like spiced skewers with green chutney, stuffed peppers with ginger tomato sauce, and paneer cheesecake with cashews and caramel.
89 Vegetarian Dinner Party Mains for Easy Entertaining
Whether for an elegant dinner party or a last-minute hang, it’s easy to put vegetables front and center.
43 Friday Night Dinner Ideas to Kick Off the Weekend
Easy recipes for not just any night of the week.
23 Bell Pepper Recipes With Range
Bell peppers aren’t just a crunchy snack.
71 BBQ Side Dishes to Add Some Zing to Your Next Cookout
These spectacular sides just might upstage the main event.
97 Vegetarian Recipes for When You're in the Mood to Go Meatless
Find vegetarian recipes for dinner tonight—and flavorful breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, too.
17 Most Popular Vegetarian Recipes of 2022
These meatless dinners are reader favorites.
One Sauce for Two Dinners Is the Kind of Cooking Math We Love
For these recipes, you'll make a double batch of a base sauce. Use half for one dish, and then turn the remainder into a radically different meal the following night.
It's a Sauce, It's a Stuffing: It's Spicy Paneer-Tomato Gravy
You could eat it simply with rice or flatbread, but even better? Spoon it into baked bell peppers or crispy cheese sandwiches.