Traditional Greek Recipes: Gemista (Stuffed Vegetables with rice and ground meat)

·

By Victoria Loutas

No matter who you ask, everyone will tell you that “my Yiayia makes the best Gemista!” so we thought to teach you how to make your own Gemista just as good as Yiayia’s!

Gemista is traditionally a vegetarian dish with roasted vegetables stuffed with a rice filling. 

Today, gemista is often filled with rice and ground meat stuffing and is served with roast potatoes, making it a staple meal in most Greek households. 

Ingredients

For the vegetables:

  • 6 tomatoes
  • 4 capcicums
  • 4 eggplants

For the stuffing:

  • 1 onion
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 ½  cups rice
  • ½ bunch mint
  • ½ bunch parsley
  • 500g ground mince beef
  • 400g water
  • Salt & paper
  • Grated tomato and eggplant (from inside of vegetables)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Method

For the vegetables:

  1. Begging by removing the top part of the tomatoes and eggplants. Set aside to use later as the “lid”. Scoop out the flesh from the tomatoes and eggplant and set aside for the filling mixture. 
  2. Cut the tops of the capsicum and set aside to use as a lids. Scoop the inside seed out and throw away.
  3. Place the vegetable onto a baking pan

For the stuffing:

  1. Preheat oven to 180celsius
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan
  3. Finely chop the onion and garlic and add to the pan along with the granulated sugar
  4. Add the ground beef and the eggplant and tomato flesh to the pan. Let the mince brown
  5. Add the rice and water. Season with salt and pepper and lower the heat to let simmer. 
  6. Once the filling is ready, remove from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes

Kali Oreksi! 

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Peter Mamouzelos aims to play in Greece as rugby league grows

Peter Mamouzelos has expressed his ambition to play rugby league in Greece, a goal that has been hindered in the past due to the sport's ban.

Trust-building steps taken in Cyprus, but peace talks still elusive

Cyprus' rival leaders, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, made some progress on Wednesday.

Greece to invest 25 billion euros in major defence revamp

Greece is set to invest 25 billion euros in a comprehensive defence overhaul, marking the "most drastic" transformation in its modern history.

Trump targets Australia’s beef trade in new tariff announcement

Experts are warning of rising prices for American consumers as US President Donald Trump announces sweeping reciprocal tariffs.

The Greek passport (for Aussies) debacle: Part One

For quite a while now, I've been hearing complaints from Greek Australians about long delays in obtaining a Greek passport.

You May Also Like

Childhood lessons set the tone for Peter V’landys’ career trajectory

Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V'landys, has been on a steady trajectory to the top of the sports administration world for much of his career.

Australian heroines in Greece to be honoured at Pontoxeniteas NSW afternoon tea

Pontoxeniteas NSW are celebrating International Women's Day on Sunday, March 12 with an afternoon tea at the Pontian House in Undercliffe.

EU corruption scandal: Eva Kaili denies involvement after 1.5 million euros in cash seized

Greek MEP Eva Kaili has denied involvement in an alleged bribery scandal involving World Cup host Qatar at the European Parliament.