In the realm of Mediterranean cuisine, Greek Stuffed Tomatoes stand as a culinary masterpiece, embodying the vibrant flavors and wholesome ingredients of this sun-kissed region. These plump, juicy tomatoes are carefully hollowed out, creating a natural vessel for a tantalizing filling. A delectable blend of rice, ground meat, herbs, and spices is expertly crafted, filling the tomatoes with a savory and aromatic mixture. These stuffed tomatoes are then lovingly baked in a rich tomato sauce, their skins bursting with flavor as they absorb the tangy juices. Accompanying this main course is a delightful array of side dishes, each offering a unique taste experience. From the refreshing simplicity of a classic Greek salad to the creamy indulgence of tzatziki sauce, and the crispy crunch of homemade pita bread, these accompaniments elevate the stuffed tomatoes to a truly unforgettable meal.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
YEMISTA (GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES AND PEPPERS)
Make and share this Yemista (Greek Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 2h45m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cut off tops of tomatoes (retain tops) and carefully scoop out flesh (retain this as well).
- Cut off tops of peppers (retain tops) and remove seeds and membrane.
- Place tomatoes and peppers in a pan large enough to hold them comfortably and give each veg a tiny dash of sugar with the tips of your fingertips (I really think this is important!).
- Take tomato flesh and process it until pureed.
- Add olive oil, rice, onion, garlic, mint, parsley, nuts, cheese, sultanas, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper (or season to taste).
- Stuff the vegetables evenly with this mixture.
- Replace tops of tomatoes and peppers.
- Combine 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup olive oil with a scant tablespoonful of tomato paste and a little salt and pepper and pour this around the veg.
- Bake in a preheated 375F oven (180C) for approx 1 3/4 hours (vegetables should pierce easily and be slightly blackened in parts).
- Turn off oven and leave in for another hour to'mellow' before serving.
- This is best served slightly warm or at room temperature.
- It is wonderful eaten along with little bites of feta cheese and a cool glass of white or rose.
- It will also have yummy juices begging to be mopped up with bits of crusty bread.
- In my version, I also take 3-4 medium-sized potatoes, cut them into big wedges, toss in a little olive oil with salt and pepper to taste, and'plant' in the spaces amidst the vegetables.
- That way you can have a couple of wedges of potato too.
GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES AND PEPPERS (YEMISTA)
This is my favorite! The best time to make it is in August when the garden tomatoes are ready for harvest. Hothouse tomatoes are just not the same. My mom made this every year, and when she did, I thought I died and went to heaven. Enjoy!
Provided by Denise Phillips Sarigianopoulo
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h45m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cut off tops of tomatoes, leaving 1 corner still attached to create a lid. Scoop insides of tomatoes and transfer 'meat' to a large bowl; squeeze juices out of tomatoes. Cut off tops of green peppers and reserve for later use; scoop out seeds and membranes. Arrange tomatoes and bell peppers in a 11x17-inch baking dish.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic in the melted butter until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add ground chuck, soy sauce, seasoned salt, and black pepper to onion mixture; cook until ground chuck is browned and crumbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Mix squeezed tomato meat and water into browned chuck; bring to a simmer, about 15 minutes. Add rice and bring to a boil; remove skillet from heat. Spoon beef-rice mixture into tomatoes; place tops onto filled tomatoes and arrange them into the baking dish with lid sides down.
- Stuff bell peppers with beef-rice mixture and top with reserved lids; lay bell peppers sideways in the baking dish. Pour olive oil over stuffed tomatoes and bell peppers; season with salt and pepper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn bell peppers and continue baking until bell peppers and tomatoes are softened, about 30 more minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 347.9 calories, Carbohydrate 28.5 g, Cholesterol 44.5 mg, Fat 20.6 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 13 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 411.9 mg, Sugar 5.4 g
GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES
Stuffed tomatoes are ubiquitous in Greece. They're filled with rice and herbs, usually mint and dill, with a little shredded zucchini mixed in with the rice. I'm giving you the choice of bulgur or rice. If you can't tolerate gluten, use the rice; if you can and prefer a whole grain, use the bulgur.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 2h
Yield Serves six
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Prepare the tomatoes. With a sharp paring knife, cut out the tops of the tomatoes as you would a jack-o'-lantern, leaving them intact so that you can replace them when you bake the tomatoes. Cut away the woody core, and reserve the tops. Using a small spoon, preferably a grapefruit spoon, scoop out the insides of the tomatoes. Place a strainer over a bowl, and rub the seed pods against the strainer. Discard the seeds. Finely chop the pulp. Add to the bowl with the juice. Salt the tomato shells, place them upside down on a rack set on a baking sheet, and let drain while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Toss the shredded zucchini with a generous amount of salt, and let drain in a colander for 10 minutes. Take up handfuls of zucchini and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Transfer to the bowl with the tomato pulp. Add the garlic, mint, parsley or dill, and rice or bulgur. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a baking dish large enough to accommodate all of the tomatoes. Fill the tomatoes almost to the top with the stuffing, and replace the caps. Place in the oiled baking dish. Drizzle on the remaining oil. Place in the oven, and bake 45 minutes to an hour until the tomatoes are almost collapsing. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool to room temperature or serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 130, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 389 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams
GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES
All the ingredients of a Greek salad stuffed in a baked tomato shell. Serve with your favorite lamb dish, or as an appetizer.
Provided by Michael Foreman
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Tomatoes
Time 30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Slice tomatoes in half, scoop out seeds, and place in a baking dish sliced-side up. Sprinkle with and salt and pepper . Bake for 5 minutes. Remove tomatoes from oven, drizzle with olive oil, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
- While baking tomatoes, mix together cucumber, yogurt, olives, basil, and sugar. Stir in feta cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Remove tomatoes from oven, fill with cucumber mixture, and sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 225.4 calories, Carbohydrate 10.4 g, Cholesterol 34.3 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 7.6 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 1037.1 mg, Sugar 6 g
YEMISTA (GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES & PEPPERS)
Categories Cheese Pepper Potato Tomato Vegetable Bake Vegetarian Kid-Friendly High Fiber Dinner Healthy
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Remove tops of tomatoes (retain tops) and carefully scoop out flesh (retain flesh of 2-3 tomatoes as well). Cut off tops of peppers (retain tops) and remove seeds and membrane. Place tomatoes and peppers in a greased pan, large enough to hold them comfortably, and give each vegetable a tiny dash of sugar with your fingertips. Process tomato flesh until pureed. Add 3/4 cup olive oil, rice, onion, shallot, garlic, mushrooms, mint, parsley, nuts, breadcrumbs, cheeses, salt, and pepper. Stuff the vegetables evenly with this mixture and replace tops of tomatoes and peppers. Toss potato slices in olive oil and salt and pepper. "Plant" in amongst the other vegetables. Combine 1 cup water and 1/2 cup olive oil with a scant tablespoon of tomato paste and a little salt and pepper and pour this around the vegetables and potatoes. Bake in a preheated 375 F oven for about 1 hour 45 min. (Vegetables should pierce easily and be slightly blackened in parts). Turn off oven and leave in for another hour to "mellow" before serving. Serve warm, with slices of feta cheese and crusty bread.
STUFFED GREEK TOMATOES
Make and share this Stuffed Greek Tomatoes recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Mikey Tucson
Categories Greek
Time 10m
Yield 8 appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut flat ends on top and bottom of tomatoes and then cut tomatoes in half, then seed with spoon to keep shell intact.
- Add 1/2 tbsp onions, 1 olive, 1 tbsp feta to each half.
- Drizzle olive oil over each half.
- Add 1 slice of cucumber to each half.
- Rip an appropriately-sized piece of basil and place on top.
GREEK STUFFED TOMATOES
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly grease a small baking dish and set aside. Slice the top off of each tomato and scoop out the flesh and seeds, leaving the tomato shell. Cook the rice in the microwave or on the stovetop according to the package directions. To the rice, add feta cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, oregano, crushed red pepper and lemon zest. Mix together gently. Stuff the tomatoes with the rice mixture and place in baking dish. Drizzle with remaining olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes, or until tomatoes have softened and tops are golden brown.
Tips:
- Select ripe, firm tomatoes: Choose tomatoes that are evenly colored and free of blemishes. They should be firm to the touch, but not too hard.
- Use a variety of fillings: Don't be afraid to experiment with different fillings for your stuffed tomatoes. Some popular options include rice, ground beef, sausage, vegetables, and cheese.
- Season your filling: Don't forget to season your filling with your favorite herbs and spices. This will help to enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Use a baking dish that is large enough to hold the tomatoes: Make sure that the baking dish you use is large enough to hold all of the tomatoes without overcrowding them.
- Bake the tomatoes until they are tender: The cooking time for stuffed tomatoes will vary depending on the size of the tomatoes and the type of filling you are using. Bake the tomatoes until they are tender and the filling is cooked through.
Conclusion:
Stuffed tomatoes are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. They are perfect for summer gatherings and potlucks. With so many different variations to choose from, there is sure to be a stuffed tomato recipe that everyone will enjoy.
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