Italian Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers

These appetizers have all the savory, caramelized sweetness of Italian Sausage & Peppers packed into a bite-sized package. They also happen to be gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, and low-carb. 

They can easily be made ahead, which makes them perfect party fare, whether you're hosting or just bringing a dish to pass. And with the festive colors and totally-poppable size, they are guaranteed to be a hit with everyone, regardless of the fact that they happen to be Paleo. 

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Chef's Notes:

I have this cousin-in-law, Nadia, a great cook from a family of great cooks. Her dad is Italian, her mom is Ukrainian, and she grew up in NYC, cooking and eating great food. One afternoon, Nadia offered to teach me to make her Italian Sausage and Peppers. Even though I try to avoid pasta and cheese, I knew there was only one right answer to this offer: yes. This was an occasion worthy of exposure to what I sometimes refer to as ‘glutendairy’. It was also a time when I was able to get away with a little more glutendairy than I am now. 

Learning to make Nadia’s sausage and peppers was one of my fave cheats of all time. Afterward, the memory of the sauce and the sweetness of the caramelized everything haunted me with cravings and drove me to solve this recipe in a more compliant, yet still scrumptious, way. The result? These Sausage Stuffed Mini-Peppers, complete with all the caramelized, savory goodness of the real thing.

Chef's Tips:

• You can avoid the funky processed ingredients found in the factory-made stuff by using my recipe for homemade Sweet Italian Sausage.
• I rarely share recipes with cheese here but have found that small amounts of aged, raw-milk cheeses are easier to tolerate for some of us. If you're not one of those people, feel free to omit the pecorino romano topping. 

Have leftover Italian sausage? Try this next: Italian Sausage Minestrone

Thyroid-healthy Highlights:

• Pork: A 3 ounce serving of pork contains 103% DV for tyrosine, 63% DV for selenium, and 17% DV for Zinc – 3 key nutrients for thyroid health.
• Sweet Peppers: In addition to being non-goitrogenic and low in calories, a 1 ounce serving of cooked sweet peppers contains 76% DV for vitamin C. A study recently shared in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism stated, “In patients with hypothyroidism and gastrointestinal pathology, vitamin C improves the abnormalities in serum free T4, T3, and TSH concentrations.” *Please Note* peppers are in the nightshade family for those of you avoiding them.
• Garlic has many powerful healing properties and may aid or alleviate some of the symptoms of thyroid disease, such as inflammation, cardiovascular issues, decreased immunity, and increased infection. It can also support the liver in its detoxification efforts.

Happy cooking, happy thriving, and enjoy the recipe (below)!

P.S. Need more thyroid-friendly recipe inspiration? I’ve got you covered. My Thyroid-friendly Everyday eCookbook features over 50 quick and easy, thyroid-friendly recipes your whole family will love. To take a peek at what’s inside, CLICK HERE.

 

More Thyroid-healthy Sides:

• Olive Oil Mashed Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes (GF, DF, Paleo, AIP)
• Simply Perfect Wild Rice (GF, DF)
• Artichokes with Garlic, Lemon, and Fennel Aioli (GF, DF, Paleo)
• Herb Roasted Asparagus (GF, DF, Paleo, AIP)
• Wilted Greens with Pine Nuts, Garlic, and Golden Raisins (GF, DF, Paleo)
• Green Beans with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Garlic, and Almonds (GF, DF, Paleo)
• Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon (GF, DF, AIP, Paleo)