Unstuffed Pepper Beef Skillet

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (680 g)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (14 g)
• 2 bell peppers, chopped (300 g)
• 1 small onion, diced (120 g)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (9 g)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste (32 g)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (400 g)
• 3 cups cauliflower rice (300 g)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano (1 g)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (2 g)
• 3/4 teaspoon fine salt (4.5 g)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (112 g)
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (8 g)

Instructions

1. Brown broad beef pieces. Heat oil in a wide skillet over medium-high. Add beef in broad clumps and press them against the metal. Leave the first side untouched until a dark crust forms, then turn and break the pieces smaller. Transfer browned beef to a bowl, leaving a thin layer of fat behind.
2. Keep peppers distinct. Add peppers and onion to the hot skillet. Cook until the flat pepper surfaces show brown patches while their edges remain firm. Add garlic, tomato paste, oregano, paprika, and salt, stirring until the paste darkens from bright red to brick red without scorching.
3. Reduce before cauliflower. Pour in diced tomatoes and return the beef. Simmer briskly until a spatula dragged across the skillet leaves a path that stays open for several seconds. Fold in cauliflower rice and cook only until tender; prolonged simmering releases moisture and blurs its small grain-like texture.
4. Melt without flooding. Level the mixture loosely and scatter mozzarella across the top, leaving some beef and pepper visible. Cover over low heat just until the cheese melts, then uncover immediately. Let the skillet stand off the burner until bubbling stops. Divide into four bowls and finish with parsley.

Notes

• Ingredient size affects timing, so favor even cuts while allowing naturally irregular arrangement.
• The decisive finished cue is beef with a dark first-side crust and tomato sauce reduced until the skillet bottom stays visible; wait for it before adding the final garnish.
• Refrigerate for 4 days and reheat portions gently, keeping fresh parsley separate until serving.

Nutrition Facts