Description
Gemista is a classic Greek dish of tender tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herbed rice, baked until rich, soft, and full of Mediterranean flavor.
Ingredients
6 tomatoes and peppers (mixed)
200 g short-grain rice
1 medium onion, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
100 ml olive oil
150 g crushed tomatoes
1½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).
- Cut the tops off the tomatoes and peppers and carefully hollow out the insides, keeping the shells intact.
- Finely chop the pulp removed from the vegetables.
- In a large bowl, combine the rice, grated onion, minced garlic, parsley, mint, crushed tomatoes, and chopped vegetable pulp.
- Add half of the olive oil, salt, and black pepper, then mix well.
- Loosely stuff each vegetable with the rice mixture, leaving room for expansion.
- Arrange the stuffed vegetables in a baking dish and place their tops back on.
- Drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
- Bake for about 75 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the rice is fully cooked.
- Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
You can use only tomatoes or only peppers depending on availability.
Add fresh dill for extra herbal flavor.
Pine nuts or currants can be mixed into the filling for a traditional variation.
Serve with roasted potatoes, crusty bread, or a Greek salad.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the oven for best texture or use a microwave for convenience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
