RECIPE

Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Shrimp and Wild Mushrooms

• Recipe by Joseph Jiménez de Jiménez

• Healthy
• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
2. 5 garlic cloves, 3 minced and 2 thinly sliced
3. 1 small onion, minced
4. 1 pound oyster mushrooms, stems discarded and large mushrooms halved
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
6. 1/2 pound medium shrimp--shelled, deveined and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
7. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8. 3/4 cup whole milk
9. 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
10. 2 tablespoons fine, dry bread crumbs
11. 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet pimentón (see Note)
12. 2 large egg yolks
13. 8 large piquillo peppers from a jar, drained
14. 1/2 pound plum tomatoes, finely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly brush a medium, shallow baking dish with olive oil. In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and the onion and cook over moderately low heat until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over moderately low heat until softened and just golden, about 7 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, just until opaque, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and then the milk and bring to a simmer, stirring, until smooth. Stir in the parsley, bread crumbs and pimentón and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the egg yolks and remove from the heat. Continue to stir until the egg yolks are fully incorporated and the stuffing is thick, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool.
2. Make a lengthwise slit down 1 side of each piquillo pepper. On a work surface, open the peppers and spoon the stuffing into the center, overfilling them slightly. Close the pepper around the stuffing as neatly as possible. Transfer the stuffed piquillo peppers to the prepared baking dish, seam side down, and bake for about 15 minutes, or until they are heated through.
3. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the sliced garlic and cook over low heat until golden, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until a thick sauce forms, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Using a spatula, carefully transfer the stuffed piquillos to plates. Spoon the tomato sauce over them and serve.

Make Ahead

The unbaked stuffed piquillos can be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before baking.

Notes

Pimentón is available at specialty markets in sweet and hot varieties.