Gluten-Free Recipe: Quinoa and Smoked Gouda stuffed Poblano Peppers

Here is another recipe for our free Gluten-Free Recipes collection — this time it is a vegetarian adaptation of a recent recipe that was inspired by a very tasty dish I first discovered at a local Mexican restaurant here in Texas. I first posted the non-vegetarian gluten-free original Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Chicken and Smoked Gouda recipe (link) a couple weeks ago, and now I have added this vegetarian and gluten-free version: GF and vegetarian Recipe: Quinoa and Smoked-Gouda stuffed Poblano Peppers (link)

This vegetarian version retains its healthier (than the restaurant version) approach to the recipe with much less sodium and considerably less fat, while retaining a delicious combination of flavors and textures.  The quinoa grain is not only a great gluten-free diet addition, but also a much tastier and fulfilling "stuffing" than plain rice would be.  Combine this seasoned quinoa with the large mild green chiles (Poblanos) used for this recipe — which are most excellent for stuffing thanks to their relatively thick walls  — and you have a feast for the senses.

These poblanos are not particularly "hot" peppers (when green like this), though you may find they have a subtle slightly-detectable warmth that can vary with each individual pepper. The flavor is a bit different than a sweet green pepper, though the poblano will not be too much of a taste surprise if you enjoy peppers in general. To infuse a bit of extra Mexican inspired flavor into our dish, we have used some ground chipotle powder (chipotle peppers are simply a smoke-dried jalapeño); the subtle smokiness from the smoked Gouda furthers that theme a bit.

As with the chicken-containing version from before, I have not added ANY salt to this dish aside from what is in the cheese, all in an effort to keep this dish low-sodium and generally "healthy" and safe not just for wheat-free and gluten-free diets but also for low-sodium and lower-calorie diet considerations also.  Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike can enjoy this dish, as it is delivers a great and satisfying combination of taste and texture.  Add a bit of diced avocado (as shown) for a nice complementary flavor too. And, if you do like a bit more heat, you may enjoy adding some minced jalepenos or habaneros to the mix.