Recipe for Traditional Gemista

Recipe for Traditional Gemista

Bursting with fresh and vibrant colors gemista is a traditional recipe for Greek stuffed tomatoes and/or other vegetables that are baked in the oven. The traditional recipe for Gemista is vegetarian, where the filling is rice & chopped vegetables but may also contain minced beef or pork. Our favorite however remains the original one, so follow our steps to enjoy it at home and feel free to use your imagination to give it your own twist.

What you will need

  • 6 large ripe tomatoes
  • 4 bell peppers
  • 4 zucchinis
  • potatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 150g long grain rice
  • 15g of dill finely shredded,
  • salt and pepper
  • a pinch of sugar
  • parsley and basil (optional)

Preparation

Cut a 2cm thick slice off the top of each tomato. Do the same with peppers and zucchinis. Scoop out their pulp with a teaspoon into a bowl and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a medium pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over a medium heat, until soft but not browned. Add the tomato pulp to the pan, increase the heat slightly, and simmer vigorously for almost 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the mixture is thickened. Make sure that there is some juice in the pan still. Stir in the rice and the dill, cover and leave to cook over a low heat for 10 minutes, until the rice is only half-cooked. Add salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar (it always blends well with frest tomatoes). Preheat the oven to 190°C fan. Put the hollowed out tomatoes, peppers and zucchinis into a slightly oiled baking dish and fill with the rice mixture. Replace the tops. Cut potatoes and arrange them between the stuffed veggies. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, until the tomatoes and veggies are tender and the rice is cooked through. Garnish with basil or parsley leaves, serve with feta cheese and bread & enjoy! Check out our “Greek Village” menu, for ispiration for your Greek-themed event!

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