‘GEMISTA’ TRADITIONAL GREEK RECIPE
This traditional Greek recipe is beloved by almost everyone in Greece. Stuffed vegetables, also called ‘Gemista’, is a famous Mediterranean summer dish, since that’s when the vegetables used in this recipe are usually harvested. Nevertheless, it can be enjoyed throughout the year, hot or even cold. It's a dish with high nutritional value, while at the same time it’s very light and aromatic, great to enjoy on hot summer days after the beach!
For this traditional Greek recipe, we used Kardamas Greek olive oil of course, tomatoes and green bell peppers, but nothing stops you from trying other vegetables, such as zucchinis, eggplants and even onions! Gemista can be prepared with or without meat, in which case the Greeks call them ‘orphans’, and that’s what we have prepared for you.
‘Gemista’ Traditional Greek Recipe
Ingredients
4 medium sized tomatoes
4 medium sized green bell peppers
2 medium potatoes
1 fresh bunch of parsley
1 big onion (for the stuffing)
2-3 tomato crumbs (for the stuffing)
8 tbs. rice (1 tbsp. for each vegetable, for the stuffing)
1 cup Kardamas Greek extra virgin Olive Oil
Kardamas Greek sea salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
1 tbsp. sugar
Zwieback crumb (optional)
Directions
Don’t be intimidated by the procedure! This traditional Greek recipe will take a little bit more effort and time, but trust me, it will be worth it!
First, rinse your tomatoes and peppers and spread them in a large oven pan. Make sure to leave some room around for the potatoes later. With a sharp knife, slice carefully the tops of your tomatoes and peppers, about ⅓ of an inch, as if creating lids for your vegetables. Don’t throw the ‘lids’ as you will need them to cover your stuffed vegetables later. Now, take one tomato at a time, and use a spoon to remove the insides, without thinning them too much. Grind the insides of your tomatoes in a blender along with the other two tomatoes, as you will need them for your stuffing. As for the peppers, throw away the seeds and membranes. After you are done with that, sprinkle less than half tbsp. sugar in each tomato.
For the stuffing, finely chop your onions and parsley. In a medium cooking pan, add half of your extra virgin olive oil and saute your onions until golden. Add your grinded tomato crumbs and blend everything together in medium heat, then add your rice, after you have rinsed it first. Add natural sea salt and pepper to taste, and leave everything to cook for about 5-6 minutes. Finally, remove from heat and add your chopped fresh parsley. Some add fresh chopped peppermint as well but that’s a matter of personal flavor choice. Remember that your stuffing needs to be in liquid form, not thick.
Now, it’s time to stuff your vegetables! Use a spoon and stuff your vegetables with your mix. Remember to do it as your vegetables are spread on your oven pan, otherwise it will be difficult to move them. Be sure to leave about 1 finger from the top of your vegetables because the rice will expand and your vegetables might pop from the heat, causing most of your stuffing to drip out. Cover your vegetables with their lids. Some sprinkle a bit of Zwieback crumb on top of the lids, which is optional.
Preheat your oven at 180 degrees for about 10 minutes as you prepare your potatoes. Slice your potatoes in your preferred way for the oven, oil them, salt and pepper them and add them to your oven pan. Add the rest of your extra virgin olive oil around the pan and make sure it covers most part of your potatoes. You can use a small cooking brush to oil around your stuffed vegetables as well. You may add a bit of water as well. Cover your pan in aluminum foil and cook in the oven at 180 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. During the last 30 minutes, uncover to make everything nice and crusty. Can be served cold or hot.
This traditional Greek recipe is best paired with a slice of bread and feta cheese. Don’t forget with most oily foods, Gemista is best eaten the next day!
Benefits of Traditional Greek Recipe Ingredients
The peppers and tomatoes used in this traditional Greek recipe are rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, carotenoids and other nutrients that help our immune and cardiovascular system, and have anti-aging properties. Tomatoes additionally have vitamin B6, lycopene and selenium, with anti-cancerous properties.
Rice is a great source of fiber, calcium and vitamins B and other nutrients. It helps our digestive system and lowers bad cholesterol. Brown rice especially, is rich in magnesium, an essential mineral that promotes muscle, nerve and bone health.
Natural sea salt is a delicate and necessary ingredient in cooking. It helps our bodies maintain a healthy electrolyte balance for good blood circulation and keeps many body functions in check. Additionally, it makes our Gemista even more tastier! Keep in mind that as with any salts, excessive consumption is not healthy.
Finally, there’s no traditional Greek recipe without extra virgin olive oil. Rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants from polyphenols, it’s a staple of the Mediterranean Diet and an essential ingredient in the Greek cuisine. It prevents heart related diseases, obesity, type-2 diabetes, mental declines and premature aging!
ENJOY! ΚΑΛΗ ΟΡΕΞΗ!
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