I have this recipe for stuffed peppers and was wondering what I should substitute for rice?? Do you think it would be good just leaving it out??

Stuffed peppers

4 med peppers
1/2 lb ground beef
1 1/2 c rice (WHAT HERE???...)
1- 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped or minced
1 c cheese, shredded
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tb worcestershire
2 tb ketchup
2 tb chopped parsley
1 tb olive oil
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp horseradish (will be omitting this...)
1/4 tsp black pepper

cook peppers, drain on paper towel
heat oil in skillet- add onion & garlic- cook 5 min.
add cumin- cool 2 min
add beef- cook 5 min
add tomato sauce, worcestershire, black peper, ketchup, horseradish, & salt- cook 6 min and remove from heat
stir in rice and cheese
spoon into peppers
top with parsley
bake in pan of 1" water at 350 degrees for 40 min