Type of Breadcrumb

• You can use commercial breadcrumbs or you can make your own. Store-bought Italian breadcrumbs come pre-seasoned. To make your own, tear fresh bread such as wheat, sourdough, Italian or French bread into 1-inch pieces, and then toast the crumbs on a baking dish in the oven or saute them in a pan with a small amount of oil. Stir the pieces frequently so they don't burn. To transform the pieces into crumbs, use a food processor and grind until fine. If you are using day-old bread, make sure that it is not stale and that it is free of any mold. Many organic and preservative-free breads spoil quickly.

Results

• Using breadcrumbs instead of rice is a pleasant change of pace. Unlike rice, breadcrumbs soak up a lot of flavor when you sautee them in oil. Add garlic, herbs or seasonings as you saute the crumbs. Make sure that you toast the breadcrumbs thoroughly to avoid soggy crumbs. If you use commercial breadcrumbs, you don’t need to toast them, so that you can assemble the dish in minutes. Substituting breadcrumbs for rice is a practical way to use leftover bread, but the final product is only as good as the quality of the ingredients. Avoid using stale bread that may harbor mold.

Ratios

• When substituting breadcrumbs for rice in stuffed peppers, use the same amount of breadcrumbs that you would use cooked rice. Typically, you would use about 1/2 to 1 cup of breadcrumbs, and then combine it with sauteed vegetables or meats and cheese.

Method

• Most stuffed pepper recipes that include rice call for liquid in the form of tomatoes or tomato sauce to keep the rice moist. Since bread is softer and moister to begin with, you won't need as much liquid, and too much moisture will create a soggy mess. Saute vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, garlic or carrots in oil and add diced bacon or sausage, adding the breadcrumbs only at the end of the cooking time. You can season this with salt and pepper or your choice of herbs. You can also add grated cheese, such as Parmesan, or top the stuffed pepper with cheese before grilling, baking or roasting. Breadcrumbs are a classically French ingredient, but by varying the ingredients, you can add ethnic flair. Incorporate Kalamata olives, feta and lemon for a Greek-inspired dish, or green chili peppers and pepper jack for a south-of-the-border flavor. Cooking times for peppers stuffed with breadcrumbs compares to cooking peppers stuffed with rice, because typically, the rice is already cooked. In general, cook peppers stuffed with breadcrumbs just until the filling is hot and the peppers are tender, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Place the peppers in a baking dish and add a small amount of water. Cover and bake to steam and heat the peppers or microwave them for 8 to 12 minutes. You can even wrap stuffed peppers in foil and grill them but watch them closely, and allow about eight to 12 minutes.