Herb and Sausage-Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
• 2 (4-ounce) links spicy turkey Italian sausage
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup crumbled garlic-and-herb goat cheese, divided
• 4 small red bell peppers (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons sliced fresh basil

Preparation

1. 1. Bring 3/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
2. 2. While couscous stands, remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Remove from heat. Stir in couscous, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Stir in 6 tablespoons cheese.
3. 3. Cut tops off bell peppers; reserve tops. Discard seeds and membranes. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt evenly inside peppers. Divide sausage mixture evenly among peppers. Replace tops of peppers. Place stuffed peppers in a 5-quart round electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or until peppers are tender.
4. 4. Top peppers evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons cheese and, if desired, sprinkle evenly with basil.