I’m beet up and ‘choked up this Monday!
It’s the second installment of Heather’s Meatless Mondays from A-Z challenge!
Last week the ingredient we were to use was artichokes, and I submitted this Quinoa Stuffed Artichoke. Without thinking, I incorporated this week’s ingredient – beets – into the recipe by soaking my quinoa in beet juice.
This week… Oops, I did it again.
My submission is a Golden Beet and Tempeh Stuffed Poblano Pepper, and in my tempeh stuffing I incorporated both beets AND artichoke hearts.
If you are someone who doesn’t do well with red beets, I encourage you to try the golden variety. Golden beets tend to have less of an “earthy” taste, and are slightly sweeter than red beets. I loved that sweetness in this dish balanced with the mild heat of the poblano pepper.
Don’t be scared of the poblano. It rates a 4 out of 10 on the Scoville Scale (compared to a habanero which is 9 out of 10). A poblano’s heat is more of an accent than a punch. They are perfect for those who like just a touch of spiciness. FYI – the reddish-brown poblanos are more ripe, and are sweeter than the true green ones.
Poblanos are commonly used in Mexican dishes, but I took this in a more Indian direction by coating my sautéed stuffing ingredients in a quick sauce made of curry and nutritional yeast. Curry is an excellent pairing with the nutty tempeh and nutritional yeast flavors, and the sweetness of the beets added a fun twist to the stronger flavors.
Admittedly, I’d never roasted a pepper before. It seemed like a complex task for some reason. Rest assured it was stupid-easy, and definitely worth a shot. This recipe can be easily multiplied and customized to fit the needs of a crowd!
Next week’s ingredient is caperberries… should I purposefully aim for artichokes, beets, and capers? 😉
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Workout recap before food though! This week was a weird one. I traveled on Wed/Thursday so I had to take a rest day midweek. Being on an airplane makes my body really tired/weak-feeling, making Friday’s workout was a hard one. I also had a weird pain in my heel on Friday morning. It feels bruised, but I didn’t do anything that would bruise it. It happened before I workout – almost immediately as I got out of bed. It still hurts today… I’ve been resting and icing, and I skipped past leg day Saturday to give it a rest and instead focused on upper body. Like my triceps:
Last week I mentioned being frustrated that while I have seen increase in weight I can move, my weight is the same. This week will bring some adjustments to my diet, adding more fats, protein from “real” sources (not powder), and a small increase in carbs and veggies (woo hoo!). Candidly, I am a little nervous. That’s a LOT of food, and I often struggle to get in all 7 meals with the smaller portions. If anyone wants to come shovel food in with me, I could use the encouragement! LOL!
Workout Recap (8/6 – 8/12):
- Monday – Legs (w/ trainer)
- Tuesday – Back/Triceps, Calf raises, 2 mile walk
- Wednesday – Shoulders/Butt
- Thursday – Rest, 1.5 mile walk
- Friday – Chest/Biceps, Calf raises
- Saturday – Back/Triceps, Calf raises
- Sunday – Shoulders/Butt
Golden Beet and Tempeh Stuffed Poblano Pepper
- 1 large poblano
- 1/2 tsp avocado oil
- 2 T red onion, chopped
- 1/3 C golden beet, diced
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 serving tempeh
- 1/4 C chopped artichoke hearts
- 1 T apple cider vinegar
- 1 T nutritional yeast
- 1/4 tsp curry
- Shake of cumin
- ~2T water
Preheat oven to 475.
Place the pepper on a baking sheet, and place in oven. Roast for 30 mins, turning pepper every ~10 mins. The goal is to char it on all sides.
Once charred, place in a bowl and cover with a towel to steam for ~10 mins.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet and begin to saute onions and beets. Once onion begins to turn translucent, add garlic, tempeh, and artichokes. Add apple cider vinegar (or other white vinegar), and stir to combine. Cook until warmed through, and garlic becomes fragrant (~2 mins).
Mix nutritional yeast, curry, and cumin with water and pour over saute. Stir to combine and remove from heat.
Remove pepper from bowl and begin peeling. The skin with come off easily when they’re cooked like this.
Make a small slit down the length of one side of the pepper, being careful not to cut through to the other side. Carefully remove seeds, leaving stem intact. Spoon tempeh mixture into the pepper to fill.
Transfer stuffed peppers to baking sheet dish. Place in oven and bake until golden, 5-8 mins. Cool for a moment before transferring to a plate. Sprinkle with chopped mint, lime juice, and additional nooch sauce if desired.
Makes 1 (easily doubled or quadrupled).
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I didn’t want to clutter the post with all of my cheat day treats, but this happened (among other things):
Have you ever had an odd heel pain? Any advice?
Do you like beets? What is your favorite way to eat them?
Beets + Tempeh? You already had my attention. [And GOLDEN beets at that..]
But you are SUCH an overachiever.
Good thing that’s one of the things I love about ya? 😉
Since I have randomly been on this running kick, I’ve been having to eat a lot more than normal. Thanks for being candid that it’s a bit strange to feel like you are shoveling food in some times…
You know I have to be different – most people are talking about eating too little, so I decided to see exactly how much I can eat. LOL! 😉
Sounds great! I’m a big fan of stuffed peppers, so I like finding new variations.
If it makes you feel better, I have to shovel in so much food in a day that it seems inhuman. But it makes me see how dedicated you are which is fantastic. 🙂 As per usual, your recipe looks absolutely to DIE for. I must try! I’ve never had tempeh before!
It’s good to know i’m not alone! We should get together and eat sometime. 😉
Try the tempeh! I love it – it’s less processed than tofu and packed with protein!
Beets + goat cheese = amazing combo!
And sorry to hear about your heel – hopefully it gets better soon!
One of my fave restaurants makes an amazing salad: beets, goat cheese, orange and dill..yum! Hope your heel heals quickly 🙂
Beets and Tempeh!! Now that sounds great! And goat cheese just makes it perfect! 🙂
Look at those arms! That poblano pepper looks BOMB
Tempeh, curry, nooch and spice? Yeaaaah, I’m in! (And so glad I spotted this challenge on your/Christina’s blogs last week, I had so much fun with it this weekend).
Oh my gosh, can we groan and complain about massive amounts of food together? I know this is just day 3 for me, but uuuugh this is hard.
I am so glad you joined up – your submission looks incredible!
I knew you’d understand. 🙂
I am happy whenever someone talks about scoville units. 😉
your recipes are going to get crazy if you keep adding the previous alphabet letters in with the current one… 😉 THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD! I love everything here, and poblanos are delicious!
LOL! The more the better!
Artichokes, beets, and capers…. that could work!
Woah, you are one strong woman! I would love your tri’s 🙂
Thank you!!! I still have a ways to go, but it’s cool what diet can do to boost progress.
Love peppers and tempeh, but beets I just can’t get into. Just too much dirt taste for my likes.
You need to maybe play a little theme music with your eating to encourage you…may I suggest the Rocky theme song? Don’t laugh until you try it 😉
I hope you have a great week Laura!
Ha! That was actually in my head as I was climbing stars the other day.
I always consider poblanos a little tricky because they do have a unique flavor and the ingredients paired with them have to work. Never gone the beet rout before, but I’m willing to try.
Hope you’re heal is healing and if you want to increase your weight…well just eat MEAT!! 🙂
Very true – you have be careful to balance their unique flavor. Not like a red pepper that you can pretty much stuff with anything.
do you know how much i love beet and tempeh!!? like a lot! so much that i had to back off (think stomach woes, lol!). But know that i am drooling.
Hope the leg day goes well. Hope you and pop a squat and all.
Really?! Was it the beet or the tempeh?
lets just say it was the combo. haha
I have had the odd heal pain, but I know where it was from. I was running in my platform shoes in the rain and my ankle almost gave out. I really stretched my plantar fascia big time, but I took it easy and it healed in a couple of weeks. I hope yours feels better soon!
Oh and I LOVE golden beets! YUM!
Ouch! That sounds like a better story than mine. 😉
I still struggle with trying to eat more/gain weight for months. There are some days when I’m so sick and bloated and full but I know I need to have an evening snack, or mini meal rather, still. I’ve been up eating until almost midnight the past 3 weeks so I can make sure I’m getting enough. And I eat again as soon as I get up.
One thing I’m going to try to to drink less with my meals and more in between – that way the water/liquid doesnt fill me up. I’ve been on a sparkling water kick too so that doesn’t help.
Great recipe as always – your entire blog is on my must make list.
Good call on the drinking less. Water can really fill you up! I love your determination, friend. 🙂
I’ve actually never tried a beet! For some reason I’m afraid too! I’m worried I won’t like them! Love the cheat day yogurt! It’s the best way to cheat!
Definitely start with the golden if you try one. They are milder… kind of an “intro” beet. 🙂
Look at your arms!! Incredible!
Look at those triceps – freaking awesome!
I love the sweetness of golden beets, mmmm.
Love roasted beets! I asked Brittany this, but does it make your urine turn red also? Happens every time for me..I have tried golden beets before, but for some reason I gravitate toward the red ones. I don’t know how you eat all that food, but hopefully you’ll be able to gain some weight soon! Haha never thought I’d say that to a girl before. I’m always wary about making any comments related to weight. And hope your pain goes away soon!
Min this always happens when I drink beet juice from Whole Foods! It weirded me out the first time lol
It doesn’t do that to me, but it happens to my mom. She actually went to the Dr. thinking she was peeing blood! LOL!
Laura these stuffed peppers look amazing! I’m making stuffed zuchini tonight 🙂 I’ve never had anything but beet juice before so I should try roasting them sometime! I hope your heel gets better, I hate annoying pains!
Would you believe I have NEVER stuffed a zucchini?! That needs to change.
Your arms look great!!! I have actually never eaten tempeh or cooked beets before….I think I’ve eaten pickled beets once but I wasn’t a fan. I’ll have to try roasting them!
I have had heel pain… from walking in flip flops at an amusement park. Needless to say, I was out of running commission for a little while. I took about 5 days off of my feet and now I wear good shoes everywhere I go 😉
5 days?! That’s encouraging, actually. I’m scared of being out for weeks!
Dang girl! Your triceps are awesome!! I have never tried beets… they scare me. I’m not usually a picky person, but for some reason I can’t make myself eat them?
I think everyone has those foods – I’m that way with potatoes.
I LOVE golden beets!! YUM! I wish I had the problem of shoveling food and not gaining weight!!! 🙂 lol!
I don’t even want to hear that form you – you’re perfect!
I’m not a huge beet fan. I don’t hate them but I definitely wouldn’t go out of my way to make them.
I LOVE beets! I like them steamed and eat them plain, or in salads or shredded with carrots, etc… your stuffed peppers sound really good! I want to link up with Heather one of these weeks, but we’re still out of town so it won’t be next week. Your arms are looking awesome! Good luck shoveling in that extra food. 🙂
On a train? On a plane? 😉
Can’t wait for you to join Heather’s link up – I love your creations.
Phewww woman look at those triceps! Looking mighty fine my friend 😉 I am not a fan of beets but maybe I just haven’t really cooked them the right way… hrmm, I should try again with this delish looking recipe
Thanks, Tessa!
The best advice I ever got for roasting beets was to roast them until you think they are done, and then let them go 20-30 mins longer. 🙂
love beets!!
good luck with the next step in your eating plan! you can do it
Thanks Michelle! It’s certainly an adventure. 🙂
You always share the most creative recipes ever!
And wow wee! You are fit! All that hard work is paying off…good luck with this week’ exercise/ eating plan 🙂
You’re too kind! 🙂 Thank you!!!
I’ve never roasted a pepper before and I have no idea why! Probably time…it always comes down to time with me. I barely have enough hours in the day (night, whenever my zombie self comes to life) to get stuff done, let alone plan out time to actually put some effort into dinner. I seriously don’t know how you do it all…working, lifting, creating amazing recipes…AND still reading/commenting on other blogs! I bow down to you! Teach me your ways! Lol
I like my beets best roasted and then thrown on a salad with a little goat cheese. Mmm, goat cheese!
Oh, and I HAVE had that weird kind of heel pain before! Came out of nowhere. I just rested it for a few days until it quit bothering me, but I never figured out what brought it on in the first place.
It is really easy! It roasted while I prepped the stuffing and prepped lunch for the following day. Time flies when you’re having fun. 😉
I just went to the chiro – he said I agitated my Achilles. Argh.
I love me a stuffed poblano! I never understood why folks would eat a stuffed bell pepper… Poblanos are so much more flavorful! 😀
Oh no – not heel pain?! You haven’t been running, have you? It sounds vaguely like PF (Plantar fasciitis), which can be overuse or bad shoes. No injuries!! 🙁
I love the looks of this recipe, love the ones filled with goodies like this! I’ve never roasted a pepper in the oven, I used to use the gas on my old stove, but guess I’ll have to use this method now that I have electric.
No running, and it just happened at random. My chiro just told me I aggervated my Achilles somehow. Potentially with calf raises. 🙁