Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

2 cups water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 zucchini, diced

1 small eggplant, diced

1 tomato, diced

1 cup tomato sauce

salt and ground black pepper to taste

6 bell peppers, tops cut off and seeded

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, or more to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a deep baking dish with aluminum foil.

Mix quinoa and water together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until fragrant and slightly translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add zucchini, eggplant, and tomato; cook until slightly tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir tomato sauce into vegetable mixture; cover and simmer until vegetables have softened, about 10 more minutes.

Stir quinoa into vegetable mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Fill bell peppers with quinoa-vegetable mixture. Place peppers in prepared baking dish. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Bake in the preheated oven until bell peppers are slightly tender, about 18 minutes. Remove aluminum foil cover; sprinkle peppers with mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is bubbling and melted, about 5 more minutes.